Middle Sepik dagger.

Tim Simmons · 21st October 2011, 05:44 PM

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.

VANDOO · 21st October 2011, 09:03 PM

VERY NICE ITEMS GUYS AND QUITE A LOVELY STONE CARVING WOO WOO!!

NOT MUCH TO ADD BUT WILL ATTEMPT TO THROW A FEW PICTURES OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS INTO THE MIX FOR REFRENCE.
THESE REPRESENT ABELEM , SEPIK AND AZMAT TRIBES. THERE ARE TWO CROCODILE JAW DAGGERS AS WELL. BEEN MEANING TO DO THIS FOR A WHILE THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

THE DOUBLE PRONGED VARIETY ARE SAID TO BE ABELEM
PIC 5 WITH NUMBER ON IT IS SAID TO BE SEPIK
PIC. #6 BELOW IT WITH TASSELS SAID TO BE AZMAT
MOST OF REST ARE ABELEM BUT THERE ARE FEW UNKNOWNS. AND SOME MAY NOT BE CASSOWARY BONE.

VANDOO · 7th December 2011, 06:53 PM

I RAN ACROSS THIS UNUSUAL VARIATION OF BONE DAGGER SAID TO BE FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA SO INCLUDE IT HERE FOR REFRENCE. ITS HARD TO JUDGE ITS SIZE SO IT MAY POSSIBLY SEE USE AS A HAIR PIN OR PICK. EITHER WAY I WOULD NOT WANT TO GET POKED WITH IT.

Sajen · 7th December 2011, 09:15 PM

Here a picture from my small bone dagger collection. The two with cassowary feathers are Asmat, the dark one is Abelam and the plain white one is from one sub tribe of Asmat, I think Kamoro but not really sure.

VANDOO · 7th December 2011, 10:29 PM

INTERESTING EXAMPLES, DOES THE ONE HAVE A CASSOWARY CLAW AFIXED TO THE TIP.? THE RED BEADS/ OR SEEDS ARE INTERESTING , IS THE RESIN JUST A DESIGN OR DOES IT FORM A FACE. THIS POST IS TURNING INTO A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THESE.

Sajen · 7th December 2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

INTERESTING EXAMPLES, DOES THE ONE HAVE A CASSOWARY CLAW AFIXED TO THE TIP.? THE RED BEADS/ OR SEEDS ARE INTERESTING , IS THE RESIN JUST A DESIGN OR DOES IT FORM A FACE. THIS POST IS TURNING INTO A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THESE.

Hello Barry,

yes it is a cassowary claw fixed with resin to the bone "blade" and the red seeds are adornment, there is no face to seen. Here some close ups.
The red seeds are Abrus precatorius used by many things from the Asmat as adornment. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrus_precatorius
The white bone dagger is either from pig bone or human bone, both bones have this white "colour".

Regards,

Detlef

VANDOO · 28th December 2011, 02:35 AM

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MORE VARIATIONS OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER.
THE ONE WITH THE BIRD HEAD IS ABELAM TRIBE (WOSERSA) NOT SURE IF THAT IS A AREA OR TRIBE

) IT IS 33CM. LONG
THE OTHER ONE WITH THE HUMAN FIGURE AND FEATHERS IS AZMAT AND 40CM. LONG. I KEEP BRINGING THIS POST UP TO UPDATE AND MAKE IT A DEFINITIVE REFRENCE FOR THESE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION, OBSERVATIONS OR PICTURES.

Sajen · 28th December 2011, 03:54 PM

Sorry!

VANDOO · 24th January 2012, 04:38 AM

ANOTHER VARIATION OF SEPIK RIVER ,NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER WITH FACE. I PREFER THE DAGGERS MADE ENTIRELY FROM BONE BUT THESE COMPOSITE DAGGERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME AS WELL PERHAPS FOR CEREMONIAL USE??

VANDOO · 7th March 2012, 04:49 PM

THREE MORE EXAMPLES FOR REFRENCE.
TWO PICTURES OF A IATMUL, SEPIK BONE DAGGER WITH SCABBARD, 37CM LONG.
ONE MIDDLE SEPIK, IATMUL BONE DAGGER WITH ANCESTOR HEAD, 46CM.LONG
ONE MASSIM LIME STICK, 27CM LONG BONE. FOR COMPARISON, NOT A BONE DAGGER.

21st October 2011, 05:44 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	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. Attached Images

21st October 2011, 09:03 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	VERY NICE ITEMS GUYS AND QUITE A LOVELY STONE CARVING WOO WOO!! NOT MUCH TO ADD BUT WILL ATTEMPT TO THROW A FEW PICTURES OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS INTO THE MIX FOR REFRENCE. THESE REPRESENT ABELEM , SEPIK AND AZMAT TRIBES. THERE ARE TWO CROCODILE JAW DAGGERS AS WELL. BEEN MEANING TO DO THIS FOR A WHILE THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. THE DOUBLE PRONGED VARIETY ARE SAID TO BE ABELEM PIC 5 WITH NUMBER ON IT IS SAID TO BE SEPIK PIC. #6 BELOW IT WITH TASSELS SAID TO BE AZMAT MOST OF REST ARE ABELEM BUT THERE ARE FEW UNKNOWNS. AND SOME MAY NOT BE CASSOWARY BONE. Attached Images

7th December 2011, 06:53 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I RAN ACROSS THIS UNUSUAL VARIATION OF BONE DAGGER SAID TO BE FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA SO INCLUDE IT HERE FOR REFRENCE. ITS HARD TO JUDGE ITS SIZE SO IT MAY POSSIBLY SEE USE AS A HAIR PIN OR PICK. EITHER WAY I WOULD NOT WANT TO GET POKED WITH IT. Attached Images

7th December 2011, 09:15 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Here a picture from my small bone dagger collection. The two with cassowary feathers are Asmat, the dark one is Abelam and the plain white one is from one sub tribe of Asmat, I think Kamoro but not really sure. Attached Images

28th December 2011, 02:35 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MORE VARIATIONS OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER. THE ONE WITH THE BIRD HEAD IS ABELAM TRIBE (WOSERSA) NOT SURE IF THAT IS A AREA OR TRIBE ) IT IS 33CM. LONG THE OTHER ONE WITH THE HUMAN FIGURE AND FEATHERS IS AZMAT AND 40CM. LONG. I KEEP BRINGING THIS POST UP TO UPDATE AND MAKE IT A DEFINITIVE REFRENCE FOR THESE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION, OBSERVATIONS OR PICTURES. Attached Images

7th December 2011, 10:29 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	INTERESTING EXAMPLES, DOES THE ONE HAVE A CASSOWARY CLAW AFIXED TO THE TIP.? THE RED BEADS/ OR SEEDS ARE INTERESTING , IS THE RESIN JUST A DESIGN OR DOES IT FORM A FACE. THIS POST IS TURNING INTO A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THESE.

28th December 2011, 03:54 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Sorry! Last edited by Sajen; 28th December 2011 at 07:54 PM. Reason: I am unsure if the information is correct

24th January 2012, 04:38 AM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ANOTHER VARIATION OF SEPIK RIVER ,NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER WITH FACE. I PREFER THE DAGGERS MADE ENTIRELY FROM BONE BUT THESE COMPOSITE DAGGERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME AS WELL PERHAPS FOR CEREMONIAL USE?? Attached Images

7th March 2012, 04:49 PM	#10
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THREE MORE EXAMPLES FOR REFRENCE. TWO PICTURES OF A IATMUL, SEPIK BONE DAGGER WITH SCABBARD, 37CM LONG. ONE MIDDLE SEPIK, IATMUL BONE DAGGER WITH ANCESTOR HEAD, 46CM.LONG ONE MASSIM LIME STICK, 27CM LONG BONE. FOR COMPARISON, NOT A BONE DAGGER. Attached Images