Long spear. Shaft is made from a light grass material, maintaining diameter until its proximal end where it narrows to join with the spear neck. Strands of fibre are wound tightly many times around the connection, as well as at the shaft’s distal end. Remnants of glue here indicate further fibre wrappings. Spear neck is of a dark brown wood, while head is made of a lighter wood and lashed to neck with fibre. Head takes a leaf shape, flared at centre, narrowing to a pointed tip, concave on one side where it is painted black with box designs at centre. Opposite is decorated with a line of ‘v’ and diamond shaped designs. Remnants of red and yellow feathers can be seen in the lashing of head and neck. Neck holds several sets of engraved encircling lines.

• Narrative

  Collected by Mavis Balshaw while in the Peruvian Amazon in the mid-1960s.

---

• Type of Item spear
• Culture Shipibo
• Material cane grass, wood, fibre, paint, feather
• Measurements height 199.0 cm, width 3.9 cm, depth 2.0 cm (overall)

---

• Previous Owner Mavis Balshaw, Sheila Petrie
• Received from Sheila Petrie

---

• Made in Peru

---

• Creation Date before 1970
• Ownership Date before May 9, 2014
• Acquisition Date on May 9, 2014

---

• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3060/0009