• Western Highlands

• Mid 20th C.

• Bamboo, black palm, wood, insect wax and charcoal, cassowary claw

• 40.5 to 44 in. / 103 to 112 cm

• Weight including stands: 2.6 lbs. / 1.2 kg

Four of these arrows, with their pointed heads and intricate carved designs, were crafted for display at weddings, pig feasts, and other ceremonies. The specimen fitted with a cassowary toenail served as a fighting arrow.

Arrows were made by individual men and by specialist clan arrow-makers alike, and were carried whenever a man ventured beyond the village. The type of arrow a man carried was rarely incidental — it could signal the purpose of his journey, whether hunting fish, birds, or pigs, engaging in combat, or attending a ceremonial occasion.

 At gatherings such as marriages and pig feasts, men displayed their most elaborate arrows to gain prestige. These ornately carved pieces were also given as gifts between clans, serving as tokens of diplomacy and alliance.

Shipping quoted separately.

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