Middle Sepik dagger.

[Sajen]

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]

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]

Some more New Guinea bone daggers.

Pic. 1: Asmat
Pic. 2: Maprik, either Abelam or Wosera
Pic. 3: Sepik
Pic. 4: Sepik
Pic. 5: Kombai
Pic. 6: Sepik
Pic. 7: Asmat