ENGRAVED BONE DAGGERS, Sepik River region, PNG

Chris Boylan Oceanic Art

Four Bone Daggers

a)    31 x 5 x 4cm    $ 800     b) 36 x 5 x 5cm   $ 800    

c)    36 x 5 x 5cm    $ 800     d) 29 x 6 x 6cm   $ 2,000

Engraved bone daggers of the Sepik region have two primary functions. Firstly, they are weapons in close-encounter tribal warfare. Secondly, they are worn in armbands by warriors on the upper arms, with the carved images facing outwards and often further embellished with colourful feather tassels..

A)    Cassowary bone dagger, Sawos,

Features engraved scrolls and curvilinear design with three subtle abstract faces revealed upon closer inspection.

 appear upon close looking.

B)    Cassowary Bone Dagger, Abelam

This dagger presents a superb central figure surrounded above and below with engraved geometric motifs. The style suggests it is from the Sunuhu region, central west Abelam.

C)   Cassowary Bone Dagger, Abelam

The simple strongly executed full figure of this dagger is outstanding> Two were collected in the 1960s, obviously by the same master artist. One, in perfect condition entered the Daaler collection in Adelaide. This one was broken and repaired in the village before its early collection. Early 20thC.

D)   Human Bone Dagger, Kwoma,

Deeply engraved with a deep honey-coloured overall patina. The central face is surrounded by typical Kwoma geometric and zig-zag motifs. The knuckle incorporates pearlshell “eyes”, very rare as two large cowrie shells invariably are embedded here. There are 9 matching notches below the engraved designs, the exact meaning unknown.

$800.00

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