tamoyillar

Tamoyillar is a term used in the study of cultural design and textiles to refer to recurring design motifs or patterns that appear across crafts such as fabrics, beadwork, and carving. The category functions as a way to describe motifs that recur within a culture’s material production and often carry symbolic or social meanings.

The etymology of tamoyillar is not standardized; the term is common in Philippine textile scholarship to denote motifs, though its exact roots and usage vary among scholars and communities.

Tamoyillar includes geometric forms—such as diamonds, chevrons, and stepped borders—as well as natural forms like stylized plants or animal figures, and occasionally abstract symbols. The motifs may signal regional origin, lineage, social status, or ritual function, and the same motif can appear across different media, suggesting shared repertoires, diffusion, or adaptation.

Scholars study tamoyillar by compiling catalogs of motifs, photographing and drawing patterns, and recording ethnographic notes from artisans about meanings, production techniques, and inspirations. Comparative analysis across artifacts and regions helps trace historical change and interchanges.

Significance: tamoyillar research preserves intangible heritage, informs the interpretation of artifacts, and supports living artisan communities by highlighting the value and meaning embedded in pattern design.

See also: motif, textile design, Philippine textiles.