Bidspirit auction | Cassowary Bone Dagger, Heavily Incised

Cassowary Bone Dagger, Heavily Incised and Painted - Cassowary bone dagger, heavily incised and finely painted, with geometric design, fiber decoration, and mini-face carved into the inside top 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. Locale: Lower Sepik River Country: Papua New Guinea Date: 1936 or earlier Material: Cassowary bone Dimensions: L 15” Provenance: Louis Pierre Ledoux Collection