Taiwan aborigines: a ceremonial Rukai knife

[varta]

The first Rukai knife is much older. The tip was burnt (was his owner drunk?) maybe it was a period of time when a knife had no value anymore and it was thrown away... The bronze sheet on the other has been taken away (recycling?)
The decoration shows interesting patterns; it has the red-crimson colour so caracteristic of ancient time.
So this knife has a touching story... when the second one has a "classic" Rukai style probably from the first quarter of the XXth century.


Let me show a small knife to prepare betel nuts. (about 12cm long)