Bidspirit auction | Cassowary Bone Dagger with Shell

Cassowary Bone Dagger with Shell and Fiber - Cassowary bone dagger, not carved but decorated with shell and fiber and shell bell. In his Diary, page 162 (lot 108 box F1), Ledoux explains: ”Cassowary bone daggers used in war to kill children being poked through the eyes or shoulder blade, or if your spear is broken used on men, holding the man first. It is worn in the mal [loin cloth].” In Ledoux’s various writings, he mentions the daggers often. Similar dagger is on display at the American Museum of Natural History, Margaret Mead Hall of Pacific Peoples, and was gifted by Louis Pierre Ledoux in 1936. Locale: Lower Sepik River Country: Papua New Guinea Date: 1936 or earlier Material: Cassowary bone Dimensions: L 11” / 28 cm Provenance: Louis Pierre Ledoux Collection Similar items: American Museum of Natural History - Division of Anthropology 80/8944 https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/image_dup.cfm?catno=80%2E0%2F%208944