Bow an arrows, Papua (?)

junker · 12th December 2011, 06:39 PM

Hi,

these bow and the arrows came to me some month ago. Because I guess it came from papua, I wont put it under the tread of the santa cruz arrows from MariaL.
Am I right?

The Bow is made from palmwood with a string of a kind of bamboo. It has a nice carving. Length 180 cm
The arrows are bamboo with some carvings on it and palmwood tips. 120-135 cm.
They shall be picked up around 1900, by german colonial workers.

There are some lances and spears with it, which i will show in another part.

Best

Dirk

colin henshaw · 12th December 2011, 09:36 PM

Hi

Yes, bow and arrows from New Guinea. Nice to have the original string.
Congratulations.

Indianajones · 13th December 2011, 05:34 PM

Hi there, just a curious question to add; the bow and arrow tips seem to be from ironwood. Personally I dont recall seing bows from ironwood (from New Guinea) as they are mostly from palmwood (darkbrown with black vines going paralel).
From what area in New Guinea would they be from?

(the only (black) ironwood items I know of in S.E asia are the sumpitan or blowguns from the Dayak, Borneo (what I recall instantly))

Also the decoration on the arrows are -I do know quite about New Guinea and the whole area- not very distinctive at all, in contrary of most New Guinea arrows.
Am not dismissing it being New Guinea though, just wondering where to place it in New Guinea (or else?), like may the owner.

junker · 14th December 2011, 09:32 PM

Hi,
thanks so far.
I am not so familiar with woods at all.
The bow is dark brown with light brown long parallel lines.
Also two of the tips.
One of them might be another light brown hardwood.

Best
Dirk

VANDOO · 14th December 2011, 10:49 PM

JUDGEING FROM THE WAY THE BOW TIP IS BROKEN AND YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE WOOD IT IS LIKELY A BLACK PALM WOOD RATHER THAN IRONWOOD. IRONWOOD WILL BLUNT AND DEFORM WITH IMPACT SUCH AS RESTING IT ON THE GROUND NOT SPLINTER LIKE THE PALMWOOD LEAVING A RAGGED END LIKE ON YOUR BOW.
DIFFICULT TO PLACE THE ARROWS AS SUCH DESIGNS AS WELL AS POINTS ARE WIDESPREAD IN NEW GUINEA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. I HAVE NO REFRENCE BOOK AND PICTURES IN MY FILE ARE NOT COMPREHINSIVE ENOUGH FOR A COMPARITIVE IDENTIFICATION.
THE MASSIM TRIBES DO CARVEING SIMULAR TO THAT ON YOUR BOW BUT IT IS LIKELY OTHER TRIBES MAY ALSO USE SIMULAR CARVING STYLES, ONCE AGAIN NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION OR GOOD REFRENCE TO MAKE A SURE ID.

Indianajones · 15th December 2011, 10:46 PM

Yes you are right; ironwood would not be (very?) suitable I think to make bows as it is hard and splinters. Though it does like like it, seen also the sharp lines of the (later?)carvings. Doesnt black palmwood also consists of softer wood intervened with many hard black vines?? Am not sure I've seen this type of wood, so could be that.

The palmwood is used again in whole S.E Asia to make bows, so that wouldnt help us much.

junker · 11th October 2013, 11:54 AM

Hello,

I´m happy to get another bow from SEA region.

It is 210 cm long, made of brown (palm-?) wood in D shape, the inside seme to be painted black.
This one has not the original string as you see but an interesting original "string-holder"
On the outside there are two parallel lines carved.

Hope you enjoy it too.

Best from
Dirk

12th December 2011, 06:39 PM	#1
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	Bow an arrows, Papua (?) Hi, these bow and the arrows came to me some month ago. Because I guess it came from papua, I wont put it under the tread of the santa cruz arrows from MariaL. Am I right? The Bow is made from palmwood with a string of a kind of bamboo. It has a nice carving. Length 180 cm The arrows are bamboo with some carvings on it and palmwood tips. 120-135 cm. They shall be picked up around 1900, by german colonial workers. There are some lances and spears with it, which i will show in another part. Best Dirk Attached Images

14th December 2011, 09:32 PM	#4
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	Wood Hi, thanks so far. I am not so familiar with woods at all. The bow is dark brown with light brown long parallel lines. Also two of the tips. One of them might be another light brown hardwood. Best Dirk

11th October 2013, 11:54 AM	#7
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	Another Bow Hello, I´m happy to get another bow from SEA region. It is 210 cm long, made of brown (palm-?) wood in D shape, the inside seme to be painted black. This one has not the original string as you see but an interesting original "string-holder" On the outside there are two parallel lines carved. Hope you enjoy it too. Best from Dirk Attached Images

12th December 2011, 09:36 PM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hi Yes, bow and arrows from New Guinea. Nice to have the original string. Congratulations.

13th December 2011, 05:34 PM	#3
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hi there, just a curious question to add; the bow and arrow tips seem to be from ironwood. Personally I dont recall seing bows from ironwood (from New Guinea) as they are mostly from palmwood (darkbrown with black vines going paralel). From what area in New Guinea would they be from? (the only (black) ironwood items I know of in S.E asia are the sumpitan or blowguns from the Dayak, Borneo (what I recall instantly)) Also the decoration on the arrows are -I do know quite about New Guinea and the whole area- not very distinctive at all, in contrary of most New Guinea arrows. Am not dismissing it being New Guinea though, just wondering where to place it in New Guinea (or else?), like may the owner.

14th December 2011, 10:49 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	JUDGEING FROM THE WAY THE BOW TIP IS BROKEN AND YOUR DESCRIPTION OF THE WOOD IT IS LIKELY A BLACK PALM WOOD RATHER THAN IRONWOOD. IRONWOOD WILL BLUNT AND DEFORM WITH IMPACT SUCH AS RESTING IT ON THE GROUND NOT SPLINTER LIKE THE PALMWOOD LEAVING A RAGGED END LIKE ON YOUR BOW. DIFFICULT TO PLACE THE ARROWS AS SUCH DESIGNS AS WELL AS POINTS ARE WIDESPREAD IN NEW GUINEA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. I HAVE NO REFRENCE BOOK AND PICTURES IN MY FILE ARE NOT COMPREHINSIVE ENOUGH FOR A COMPARITIVE IDENTIFICATION. THE MASSIM TRIBES DO CARVEING SIMULAR TO THAT ON YOUR BOW BUT IT IS LIKELY OTHER TRIBES MAY ALSO USE SIMULAR CARVING STYLES, ONCE AGAIN NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION OR GOOD REFRENCE TO MAKE A SURE ID.

15th December 2011, 10:46 PM	#6
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Yes you are right; ironwood would not be (very?) suitable I think to make bows as it is hard and splinters. Though it does like like it, seen also the sharp lines of the (later?)carvings. Doesnt black palmwood also consists of softer wood intervened with many hard black vines?? Am not sure I've seen this type of wood, so could be that. The palmwood is used again in whole S.E Asia to make bows, so that wouldnt help us much.