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Barbed Spear, mid 19th to early 20th Century
Bougainville Island, Autonomous Region of Bougain…
Spear
Barbed Spear, mid 19th to early 20th Century
Bougainville Island, Autonomous Region of Bougain…
Barbed Spear, mid 19th to early 20th Century Bougainville Island, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia Wood, bone, fiber and pigment; 77 × 1 × 1 in. 2015.17.16 The George Stanley Lodin Collection
Copyright Bowers Museum

Spear

ClassificationsArms and Armor-spears
Datemid 19th - early 20th Century
Made AtPapua New Guinea
Collection SiteSydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australia
MediumWood, bone, fiber and pigment
Dimensions76 7/8 × 1 × 1 in. (195.3 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm)
Credit LineThe George Stanley Lodin Collection
Object number2015.17.16
DescriptionThis piece’s design and shape are typical of spears from Bougainville Island. Used offensively, the barbs at the top of this spear make it a highly effective weapon. The anthropomorphic carving set between the two sections of fiber bindings is a depiction of a spirit. This spirit, kagoi, is credited as the source for the spear’s power. This spear is shorter than it should be as it was cut prior to being shipped from Australia to the United States. Bougainville spears are usually between 8 and 10 feet in length.
On View
Not on view
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