Indonesian spears and blowdarts

Marius66 · 15th December 2024, 05:09 AM

Hello all,
I just won this lot in an auction, nobody bid on it but I find it is an ethnical interesting set.
The blowdarts come with a quiver
and the two spears are decorated with rattan.
Said to be before 1920 collected in Indonesia.

Have some members any idea / info about précise origin / island ?
Kind regards

Maurice · 15th December 2024, 07:50 AM

Hi,

The lot is from Borneo, Dayak tribes.
If the second 'spear' on the right has a 'hollow' shaft, than that's the blowpipe.

Regards,
Maurice

Sajen · 15th December 2024, 08:50 AM

Agreed!

Marius66 · 15th December 2024, 01:55 PM

Thank's a lot for nail it 😁😉

Yes one of the spears shaft must be a long blowpipe .

I wonder if the darts can (still) have curare/poison on the tip ??
I will handle them with care when I get them

And I will post close pictures .

Kind regards

Maurice · 15th December 2024, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marius66

Thank's a lot for nail it ��

Yes one of the spears shaft must be a long blowpipe .

I wonder if the darts can (still) have curare/poison on the tip ??
I will handle them with care when I get them

And I will post close pictures .

Kind regards

Hi,

Yes they could contain poison, because it looks like they have darker (colour) tips (which could indicate they were provided with poison). Sometimes a piece of poison (getting sticky when heated) is kept in the inside of the dartquiver ('tolor') lid.

Ian · 15th December 2024, 02:19 PM

The tips are not likely to be curare (that's a South American poison and, AFAIK, does not exist in nature in the Philippines or other areas of SE Asia). I tried to look into what arrow poisons were used in the Philippines when I worked there in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are natural poisons that have been used, but information about what was used is sparse. Getting botanical samples for some of the possible poisons proved very difficult and I eventually gave up. In addition to plant/tree poisons, snake venom was also used in the past.

If you suspect that the dart tips have been treated, please handle them very carefully and wear thick gloves.

15th December 2024, 05:09 AM	#1
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Indonesian spears and blowdarts Hello all, I just won this lot in an auction, nobody bid on it but I find it is an ethnical interesting set. The blowdarts come with a quiver and the two spears are decorated with rattan. Said to be before 1920 collected in Indonesia. Have some members any idea / info about précise origin / island ? Kind regards Attached Images

15th December 2024, 07:50 AM	#2
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,453	Hi, The lot is from Borneo, Dayak tribes. If the second 'spear' on the right has a 'hollow' shaft, than that's the blowpipe. Regards, Maurice

15th December 2024, 08:50 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Agreed!

15th December 2024, 01:55 PM	#4
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Thank's a lot for nail it 😁😉 Yes one of the spears shaft must be a long blowpipe . I wonder if the darts can (still) have curare/poison on the tip ?? I will handle them with care when I get them And I will post close pictures . Kind regards

15th December 2024, 02:19 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	The tips are not likely to be curare (that's a South American poison and, AFAIK, does not exist in nature in the Philippines or other areas of SE Asia). I tried to look into what arrow poisons were used in the Philippines when I worked there in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are natural poisons that have been used, but information about what was used is sparse. Getting botanical samples for some of the possible poisons proved very difficult and I eventually gave up. In addition to plant/tree poisons, snake venom was also used in the past. If you suspect that the dart tips have been treated, please handle them very carefully and wear thick gloves.