Middle Sepik dagger.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I hope it is at least around 100 years old. It could even be earlier? It is comming from the Netherlands. western New Guinea was added to the Dutch Eastindies in th late 1880s. The strength and confidence of the work makes me feel that it is as I hope early 20th cent. It might even be made from a human femur often taken from the father of the owner which adds a little frisson.

Hello Tim,

normally are the Abelam daggers made from the thighbone of the cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius, see also here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassowary).
I don't think that your dagger is old like this but I may be wrong by this.
Here for comparison my example.

Regards,

Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

That is very nice Detlef. Here are two more views, all there is un till I have it. Apparently the carved female is not unusual. Looks like it couls well be as old as the one you show.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

That is very nice Detlef. Here are two more views, all there is un till I have it. Apparently the carved female is not unusual. Looks like it couls well be as old as the one you show.

I don't think that my one is older, maybe a little bit, but I know that patination in such regions coming very soon. I think a coarse guess let them be from the first half until middle last century. Your dagger shows a nice patina as well.

Regards,

Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

This was what I really would have liked, from the same seller. I could see the way it was going £346 so I opted for the by it now on the dagger. Very similar to an example on display at the Berlin ethnographic museum but not quite as fine. One day I will get one.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

This was what I really would have liked, from the same seller. I could see the way it was going £346 so I opted for the by it now on the dagger. Very similar to an example on display at the Berlin ethnographic museum but not quite as fine. One day I will get one.

Very nice Papua axe! Do you know from which region?

[Tim Simmons]

It would be nice to know exactly where it is from. I do nt know. Here is the one in the Berlin museum.

[Tim Simmons]

This has turned out to be a very lovely thing. 15.5 inches and delightful work on carving and creating a jewel like feel colour and patina. I would say more jewel like than Fijian smoked whale ivory. I have been so taken by melanesian art that I craved my own ancestor spirit out of limestone.