Bidspirit auction | Papua New Guinea Archery Collection

Papua New Guinea Archery Collection and West Yorkshire Regiment Pommel Staff - A collection of traditional Papua New Guinea archery equipment and ethnographic items. The group includes two bows. The larger bow is carved from dark wood with geometric zigzag patterns at both tips and retains a flat split-bamboo or cane string. The smaller bow features a decorative woven split-cane or grass casing covering the entire length of the limbs. Several arrows are present, constructed with pithy cane or bamboo shafts. These include examples with long, hand-carved wooden barbed tips and composite multi-pronged fish or bird points secured with fiber bindings. Also included is a wooden staff or walking stick topped with a spherical metal pommel and a metal ferrule at the base. The pommel features an embossed crest of a tiger above a scroll. A blackened and relief-decorated scroll bears the legible text WEST YORKS REGT. The larger bow measures approximately 29 1/2” x 4” x 1”. From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation.