The Okkir or Okkil

Okkir or okkil(sometimes spelled as okir)refers to a geometric and flowing designs based on leaf and vine patterns.
This pattern is the distinguishing marks of the Maranao arts and Muslim influenced artworks in southern Philippines and even in other southeast Asia.
There are two types of okir.Male designs are called okir a dato.The female designs are called okir a bay.

Okkir's prominence in the Maranao art can be found in torogan,an ancestral home of the highest title holder in a Maranao village which symbolizes power and prestige.It is usually decorated during festivities.The prominent part of the torogan is the panalong,a proteunding carverd beans in front of the house and styled with okir.

This geometric and flowing design can be found even in woven cloth or printed in textiles,wooden cemetery markers, woosen boxes and others farming implements.It can also be found etched in knives,sword handles and blades or casted into brass and silver objects such as the musical instruments.