A Filipino Ceramic Water Filter or Banga or Tapayan

My suki-runner brought this to my house just this morning. His friend was trying to unload this. Provenance-wise, this came from a family who had rich ancestors but now have succumbed to the vicissitudes of life.


He lugged in an American colonial-era (1899-1945) ceramic water filter. The condition was fantastic great. Usually these big hulk of collectibles are either broken, or with parts missing or in cases where they're intact, they're displayed in ancestral homes as heirloom pieces.  I am glad that the only damages seen were the chipped ceramic cover whereby the previous owner tried to restore it using epoxy resin, and one missing filter bar-handle. No gross defects was noted that could have marred the appearance.

A sample of an earthenware banga or tapayan (dont.blink.ph)

The filter is made from indigenous Philippine clay much like the "banga" of old. Since the country doesn't have a ceramic industry like in Delft or China, a lot of local filters are made of clay. Unlike the banga, this one has a filtering mechanism where impurities are cleaned out.  The poor unfortunately had to contend with the earthenware jar or banga or tapayan for storage.  Wasn't there a cholera epidemic during the 1910s? Oh well.

The item has a smooth white-washed outer finish, with flecks of remaining brown paint, labeled with black ink. The body is made of three parts: the cover, the upper reservoir where one pours in the unfiltered water and the lower reservoir which holds clean water.  The upper reservoir fits like a hat on top of the lower part as seen in the middle rim. There is also a brass spout which acts as the spigot, or the "tuburan" or "gripo".

 

 The label here is: 

Dizon Filtro Radinmetor
Reg. Trade Mark
Pat. Apld. (Patent Applied?) For USA & Foreign Countries

C.M. Dizon Mxxxxxx
Porac, Pamp. (Pampanga), P.I. (Philippine Islands)

I have deduced that this water filter is from Pampanga during the American period since the use of the initials PI as opposed to RP for Republic of the Philippines in which the latter was used during the Republic years of the 50s-60s.  Noting the ingenuity of the maker which I think was his reaction to the lucrative importation of European ceramic water filters, this particular filter must have been made during the 30s or 40s.  Why? Think about it.  The Philippine Commonwealth era heralded a period of peace and prosperity for Filipinos. Unlike the early years where importation was rampant marred by the Philippine-American war, and where European ceramic filters were expensively exclusive, Mr. C.M. Dizon (Celestino M. Dizon?) was able to build up capital and build a local factory for making cheaper alternatives using local materials.  This is perhaps why upper-middle class landowners could then afford to buy this type of luxury.

As the water goes into the upper reservoir, two limestone like handles act as filters, which in this case one has been broken off (to my chagrin).

What got me excited is the scarcity rarity of the item. Sure, water filters are de rigeur among wealthy Filipinos during the colonial era, but how often will you come across one that was locally made? I have another filter that my mother bought from a local antique store but it was imported from England.  Almost all of the ancestral houses I have toured in my far away province have imported water filters. If not English, they were either French or German made.  So, seeing one that was manufactured from Pampanga is rarity in itself.  I wonder how many more of this are out there?