Lot 88

Papua New Guinea Cassowary Bone Figural Dagger w/ Plumage & Shells

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Lot 88
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Papua New Guinea Cassowary Bone Figural Dagger w/ Plumage & Shells
Papua New Guinea Cassowary Bone Figural Dagger w/ Plumage & Shells
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Papua New Guinea Cassowary Bone Figural Dagger w/ Plumage & Shells

Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Starting Bid: $400

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
August 6, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Oceania, Melanesia, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. 1940–1990 CE. A tapering dagger ground from the leg bone of a cassowary, its ivory-toned shaft narrowing to a smooth, lethal point. The upper handle blooms into a carved standing ancestor figure, ribs and folded arms rendered in low relief, crowned by a stylized face with almond eyes and swept brows in the flowing curvilinear idiom of the Sepik. A dense collar of chicken feathers, mottled brown and cream, fans from the head like a headdress, bound with resin studded with small inlaid shells. A second band of shell-set resin runs partway down the blade. Weapons of this kind, worn thrust through a woven armband, served as both fighting tools and prestige emblems, the carved ancestor lending the bearer protective potency. Mounted on a custom wooden display stand. Size: 1.8" W x 18.5" H x 2.6" D (4.6 cm W x 47.0 cm H x 6.6 cm D); on included custom stand: 5.5" W x 20" H x 5.5" D (14.0 cm W x 50.8 cm H x 14.0 cm D).

Cassowary-bone daggers are among the most prized weapons of the Sepik and highland peoples of Papua New Guinea. The flightless cassowary, a large and dangerous bird, held potent symbolic associations with aggression and male power, so a dagger fashioned from its femur carried meaning beyond mere utility. The finest examples, like this one, are elaborately incised with ancestral imagery; a warrior's status could be read in the richness of his blade's carving. Such daggers were carried openly, often slung in a plaited armlet against the upper arm, ready for close combat while also broadcasting the owner's lineage and standing.

Provenance: ex-David Zahler collection, acquired between 1975 to 2004

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Parts from certain animal species including nacre shell may require an additional license upon import into another country due to legislation relating to endangered species and environmental conservation. If you are not sure whether CITES rules apply to your item, please see the CITES Appendices.

Item # 203794

  • Condition: Loss to base with some chipping. Some natural, stable fissures to bone and light age wear with a few minor abrasions. Otherwise, excellent with impressive detail and light patina. Plumage remarkably intact.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000