Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, East Sepik, probably Abelam, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A long dagger hand-carved from a huge cassowary bird ("moruk" in Tok Pisin) thigh bone. The front side is carved in relief with geometric and leaf shapes along the length of the blade area with two stylized faces, one near the center and one below the joint. The knobs at the top of the joint have been carved into to lizard heads that peer over the front of the dagger. The verso of the bone has been scooped out to create a shallow groove that runs from the joint to the tapering tip. These decorative daggers were used for fighting and tied to the upper arm when not in use as status symbols of hunters and warriors. Size: 14.625" L x 2" W (37.1 cm x 5.1 cm); 15" H (38.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid 1980s

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#160777

  • Condition: Ossification to the bone below the joint. Nicks and abrasions to peripheries. Dark patina and fine details!

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December 3, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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