Lot 122
Oceania, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz archipelago, ca. 19th to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful trio of palm wood and bamboo reed arrows, each presenting a slender, elongated form with a flat base, a cylindrical, bamboo reed shaft, and a pointed wooden arrowhead. Adorned in hues of chocolate, caramel, marigold, scarlet, and honey, these gorgeous weapons are additionally embellished by woven rattan wrapped around their circumferences, as well as incised ridges intended to further injure their victims. The largest displays intricate, black-painted abstract motifs along its body and tightly woven yellow rattan that secures the conical arrowhead, which features 3 rows of thorns extending diagonally outward and a yellow rattan tip. Alternatively, the mid-size arrow exhibits a much larger arrowhead of an elongated triangular pyramidal form with dozens of rows of skillfully hand-carved projecting spikes that are wrapped with strands of braided yellow rattan. Size of largest: 0.4" W x 54.6" H (1 cm x 138.7 cm); 55.1" H (140 cm) on included custom stand.
The arrowhead is then strapped to the bamboo shaft via brown rattan. Last, the smallest weapon features tan-colored rattan that connects bamboo shaft with the triangular pyramidal head, which is finely sculpted with alternating areas of smooth wood and jutting barbs. Arrows like these examples are often referred to as poison arrows as they were frequently treated with poisons, such as alkaloids, saps of poisonous plant, or venom from insects, snakes, or dart frogs, or magic that made them poisonous to their creators.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 1995 to 2010; ex-John DuPont collection
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#168515
- Condition: Loss of thorns on largest. Other 2 are intact. All are excellent with nice patina and impressive remaining pigments.
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |