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Dagger

MOA: University of British Columbia

2948/31

Bone dagger. The body of the dagger is formed from a cassowary leg bone, partially cut to expose the hollow interior and shaped into a fine point. The head of the bone is wrapped with a woven plant fibre casing, continuing into five thin strands of woven fibre. These each attach to two groups of blue seeds attached to short grey and long, fine black feathers. The woven casing around the thick end of the dagger has three painted bands of orange pigment. At the bottom point is a small incised cut running in a band across the bone. The head of the bone is red, with the remainder of bone yellow-brown to brown.

  • Type of Item dagger
  • Culture Asmat
  • Material cassowary bone, cassowary feather, cotton fibre, seed, pigment
  • Measurements height 32.9 cm, width 10.5 cm, depth 4.7 cm (overall)
  • Previous Owner Lorne Balshine
  • Received from Lorne Balshine
  • Made in Atsy
  • Collection Date during 1980
  • Ownership Date before April 11, 2012
  • Acquisition Date on April 11, 2012
  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 2948/0031

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