124-A28-5

Previously CS 406 5.

Displaying 1 - 8 of 8
Catalog # Name Description
1 2000.2.100 Dagger Cassowary bird thigh bone carved to a narrow point. Underside hollow. Woven string attaches 10 feather projections to end. Each projection eight gray seeds. One red attached to sections of feathers, attached with string Color: BR,WH,BL,GY,RD 2000.2.100 (Dagger) image
2 2000.2.101 Dagger Cassowary bird thigh bone carved to a narrow point. Underside hollow. Woven string covers end. Fourteen feather sections, four with 1-4 seeds, gray and red. Twenty-six loose seeds, gray and brown. Color: BR,Bl,GY,RD
3 2000.2.102 Dagger This is an Asmat dagger carved from bone, produced in Papua New Guinea in the second half of the twentieth century. It features a single slender body carved from a cassowary thigh bone, with serrated edges carved in the fashion of teeth. The handle is made up of the same material as the blade, and is covered with a twine wrapping. Attached to the end of the handle are two cords which have large feathery tassels attached to the ends of them. The cords themselves are made up of beads and plant stalks. Daggers are highly prized weapons and tools for many Asmat communities. They are traditionally made from the bones of either humans or birds, and serve both decorative and practical purposes. Daggers such as this are incredibly strong and resilient due to their composition. The use of bone in weaponry has decreased among many Asmat communities due to the introduction of refined metals by colonial powers in the late twentieth century. Bird bone daggers still retain a high standing in the culture, however, and are used for ceremonial and practical applications. Colors: Brown, Black, White 2000.2.102 (Dagger) image
4 2000.2.97 Dagger Cassowary bird thigh bone carved to a narrow point; underside hollow. Woven string with red interior coloring at end attached to two sections of feather projections (3 each side). Each pprojection has series of four seeds, gray and white, attached to feathers. Color: BR,RD,GY,WH
5 2000.2.98 Dagger Cassowary bird thigh bone carved to a point; underside hollow. Woven string attached seeds and feathers to end. Net of beads attaches to seven projections (each = circle of four seeds, 2 sections of feathes attached with strings. Color: BR,BL,GY
6 2000.2.99 Dagger This is an Asmat dagger carved from a single piece of cassowary bird thigh bone. It was produced by Asmat artisans in Papua New Guinea in the late twentieth century and maintains much of its original features. The piece features a single slender blade without serrated edges. At the end of the blade is a jagged tooth-like carving intended to pierce in a stabbing motion. At the opposite end of the dagger is a pommel wrapped in finely woven twine. Attached to the pommel are eight cords made of beads and plant stalks, at the ends of which are attached large feathery tassels. Daggers are highly prized in Asmat culture and are often produced from either human or bird bone. They are known for their great strength and elegant craftsmanship, and serve both practical and ceremonial purposes. Although the use of daggers such as this has decreased in recent decades, they still have a special place in Asmat culture due to their ethnographic history. The use of bone in the construction of daggers has also decreased due to the introduction of refined metals by colonial powers in the late twentieth century, although bone daggers are still sometimes created for ceremonial occasions. Colors: Brown, Black, White 2000.2.99 (Dagger) image
7 2008.2.13 Dart Blowgun dart with thin shaft-darker brown and is a little over 8 1/2". Shaft comes to a sharp point. Head of dart is light brown and 1/2" long and wider than the shaft. Head has a hole going through middle where shaft fits into and sticks out a bit on the other side. Color: BR
8 2008.2.5 Dart Thin shaft-dark brown that's a little over 8 1/2". Shaft comes to a sharp point. Head of dart is light brown and 1/2" long and wider than the shaft. Head has a hole going through the middle where shaft fits into and sticks out a bit on the other side. Color: BR