Bone dagger. The body of the dagger is made from a bone that has been shaved away on one half to reveal the hollow interior of the bone. The surface of the bone is covered in marks and is stained with dirt. A faint carved mark appears on the underside of the dagger. The midsection of the piece is circumscribed with a thin, black, carved ring. The head of the bone is wrapped in a thickly woven plant fibre casing. This woven casing has seven strands coming off of it which are decorated with two sets of two blue or white seeds each and sets of two black beads connected to bundles of brown and black feathers. The tops of these seven bundles are wound with the same strands of natural fibre, and some of the strands extend past the length of the black feathers.

• Narrative

  Uncertain if the name Waso refers to a village or a person or tribe?

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• Type of Item dagger
• Culture Asmat
• Material cassowary bone, cotton fibre, seed, cassowary feather
• Measurements height 33.6 cm, width 13.5 cm, depth 6.4 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Lorne Balshine
• Received from Lorne Balshine

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• Made in Papua

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• Collection Date during 1980
• Ownership Date before April 11, 2012
• Acquisition Date on April 11, 2012

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 2948/0030