Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, East Sepik, probably Abelam, ca. early 20th century CE. A rare and fascinating dagger carved from the thigh bone of a huge cassowary bird with a handmade clay head at the top. Featuring a sharp tapered tip, the lengthy weapon is capped with a stylized ovoid face with a simplistic incised smile, a large bulbous nose horizontally drilled for suspending ornaments, two cowrie shells as eyes, and a pair of sizable tab-shaped ears, each double-pierced to hold decorative knots of braided grass. Long black and brown wisps of feathers sprout atop the head of this curious visage forming a headdress, as lovely hues of maroon, grey, cream, sienna and black adorn the face and body, forming arcs around its eyes like face paint. Size: 4.875" L x 2.375" W x 12.875" H (12.4 cm x 6 cm x 32.7 cm) without feathers; 21.5" H (54.6 cm) with feathers.

A dagger like this one was made to be used for ritual purposes, especially in initiation ceremonies. The cassowary, believed by indigenous people to be both male and female and reproduce autonomously, is a highly symbolic animal to provide material for this dagger.

Provenance: ex-Jason Lowe collection, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, acquired in the 1980s

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#138346

  • Condition: Both ears have been restored. Light fading to paint and chip to proper left ear with expected nicks/chips throughout. Otherwise very nice with good remaining pigment.

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November 12, 2020 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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