Spear

ClassificationsArms and Armor-spears

Culture Asmat

Datemid to late 20th Century

Collection SitePapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia

Made AtPapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia

MediumFeathers, beads, fiber, wood and paint

Dimensions104 5/16 × 4 3/16 × 1 in. (265 × 10.6 × 2.5 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous Gift

Object number2017.10.112

DescriptionA dark brown wooden spear collected from the Papua Province (Irian Jaya) of Indonesia and dates from the mid to late 20th century. The Asmat are well known for their intricately carved and elegantly adorned spears. Carved out of single piece of light-wood this spear presents an openwork panel about a third of the way up the shaft. The panel features an elaborate cutout design of a repeated diamond shape. The spear top is composed of a double-pronged spear head and each prong has ten carved barbs. The spear top is aerodynamic by design and assist in accurately pierce the intended target. Feathers and shells are attached at one end with string.

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