Big Melanesian spear?

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2008, 07:57 PM

I am assuming this is from the western Pacific. Melanesia or Micronesia 8ft long, the carved part is 17in. Nice thing to hold, javlin like. Sorry the pics are not that good as the light was fading so some with flash on and others not. Not good either way. Any more information?

Freddy · 13th October 2008, 08:19 PM

Who is the native carrying the spear ?

Nice item, though.

Fred

colin henshaw · 13th October 2008, 08:42 PM

Looks like from New Guinea, they used palmwood for spears (and bows) a lot there. Also used in Solomon Islands.

Regards

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2008, 09:00 PM

Thanks Colin my thoughts also. It is an old piece.

Freddy it looks like a Briton you can tell by the slippers

.

Bill M · 14th October 2008, 01:57 AM

Does look New Guinea. Possibly Fly River area.

katana · 14th October 2008, 02:28 PM

Hi Tim,
very nice....no 'tip' damage...and full length ..

Be careful with that thing you might poke someones eye out ......and judging by your 'black eye' ...its already happened to you

Regards David

fearn · 14th October 2008, 07:31 PM

It is a nice piece, and I agree, it doesn't look like anything from Polynesia or Micronesia. The asymmetric teeth are interesting.

Great find. Like the native mask on your model, too.

F

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2008, 09:09 PM

It seems that Palm wood was used in New Britain, New Ireland and other Islands. Strangely in a book I have on the Admiralty Islands the spears are obsidian or ray spine tipped. Does not mean they were exclusively so.

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2008, 10:28 PM

Just found this pic from "Shields of Melanesia, University of Hawai'i press"

San Christobal, Solomon Islands. Among the many varried examples present in the book this appears almost identical even seems to have the woven fibres near the carved barbs.

Tim Simmons · 15th October 2008, 09:14 PM

Looking more closely at the pictures in the afore mentioned book. This spear looks a much better match, I could be making 2+2=5. This picture is of Busimai, a distinguished Mambare River chief, with his wife. The Mambare River is on the north coast of the eastern finger of PNG. I have also post some interesting background to the picture. The other pictures just help show the varriation of spear types found. They are far from a standard form which reminds me of the Congo. I cannot post all the pictures and the focus is on the lowlands.

Tim Simmons · 16th October 2008, 09:47 AM

Last picture from the Solomons. It also looks like mine. Just thought this picture too cool not to add.

Spunjer · 16th October 2008, 12:17 PM

hopefully this'll help:

Tim Simmons · 16th October 2008, 07:32 PM

Yes indeed, very nice. Make mine look quite modest. I assume this is not your sitting room. Where and what is this collection? do they have a publication including material of this kind? There are very good collections of Melanesian material in Holland and Germany, perhaps members from said countries could provide some information especially about any museum publications?

Look at these two wonderful spears from the Admiralty islands. From "admiralty islands art from the south seas" museum rietberg Zurich.

Spunjer · 16th October 2008, 10:31 PM

this actually belongs to bernice pauahi bishop museum in honolulu, hawai'i. i took the pics back in '05...

13th October 2008, 07:57 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Big Melanesian spear? I am assuming this is from the western Pacific. Melanesia or Micronesia 8ft long, the carved part is 17in. Nice thing to hold, javlin like. Sorry the pics are not that good as the light was fading so some with flash on and others not. Not good either way. Any more information?

13th October 2008, 08:19 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Who is the native carrying the spear ? Nice item, though. Fred

13th October 2008, 08:42 PM	#3
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Looks like from New Guinea, they used palmwood for spears (and bows) a lot there. Also used in Solomon Islands. Regards

13th October 2008, 09:00 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Colin my thoughts also. It is an old piece. Freddy it looks like a Briton you can tell by the slippers .

14th October 2008, 01:57 AM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Does look New Guinea. Possibly Fly River area.

14th October 2008, 02:28 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, very nice....no 'tip' damage...and full length .. Be careful with that thing you might poke someones eye out ......and judging by your 'black eye' ...its already happened to you Regards David

14th October 2008, 07:31 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	It is a nice piece, and I agree, it doesn't look like anything from Polynesia or Micronesia. The asymmetric teeth are interesting. Great find. Like the native mask on your model, too. F

14th October 2008, 09:09 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It seems that Palm wood was used in New Britain, New Ireland and other Islands. Strangely in a book I have on the Admiralty Islands the spears are obsidian or ray spine tipped. Does not mean they were exclusively so.

14th October 2008, 10:28 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Just found this pic from "Shields of Melanesia, University of Hawai'i press" San Christobal, Solomon Islands. Among the many varried examples present in the book this appears almost identical even seems to have the woven fibres near the carved barbs.

15th October 2008, 09:14 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Looking more closely at the pictures in the afore mentioned book. This spear looks a much better match, I could be making 2+2=5. This picture is of Busimai, a distinguished Mambare River chief, with his wife. The Mambare River is on the north coast of the eastern finger of PNG. I have also post some interesting background to the picture. The other pictures just help show the varriation of spear types found. They are far from a standard form which reminds me of the Congo. I cannot post all the pictures and the focus is on the lowlands.

16th October 2008, 09:47 AM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Last picture from the Solomons. It also looks like mine. Just thought this picture too cool not to add.

16th October 2008, 12:17 PM	#12
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	hopefully this'll help:

16th October 2008, 07:32 PM	#13
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes indeed, very nice. Make mine look quite modest. I assume this is not your sitting room. Where and what is this collection? do they have a publication including material of this kind? There are very good collections of Melanesian material in Holland and Germany, perhaps members from said countries could provide some information especially about any museum publications? Look at these two wonderful spears from the Admiralty islands. From "admiralty islands art from the south seas" museum rietberg Zurich.

16th October 2008, 10:31 PM	#14
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	this actually belongs to bernice pauahi bishop museum in honolulu, hawai'i. i took the pics back in '05...