Bidspirit auction | Jivaro Tribe Headhunters Knife -

Jivaro Tribe Headhunters Knife - Guayaquil Ecuador - This according to the museum catalog label is a Headhunters Knife from the Jivaro tribe in Ecuador.  It is made of wood, rope, snakeskin, and leather.  It is approximately 16 inches long.   The following is from Ecuador.com: Deep in the rainforest that stretches across the eastern part of Ecuador and parts of Peru lives a tribe known as the Jivaro. These fearsome warriors were among one of the very few tribal groups anywhere in the world who successfully resisted conquest and colonization by European forces. The lands of the Jivaro were known to be a source of gold, and in the late 16th century the Spanish administration established a town in Jivaro territory as a base for gold mining expeditions. The governor of the region was cruel and greedy, and he placed a crippling gold trading tax on those Jivaro who fell under his purview. This soon sparked a revolt in which up to 25,000 people who lived in the town of Logrono were killed. The governor was captured by the Jivaro, who poured molten gold into his mouth until he died (one would assume quickly). Legends say, the Jivaro taunted him by asking “Have you had your fill of gold now?” – Provenance: The Traphagen Collection | Catalog Mark SA-17.9 – Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@scottdanielsauction.com. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion, and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Scott Daniel’s Auction shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition: Good