A SMALL ADMIRALITY ISLAND DAGGER IN A BOX

Provenance: Seward Kennedy, London

A small and elegant dagger with an obsidian blade. It comes together with a small box with a hand written description: “New Ireland, traded with Irelanders of New Guinea who again trade it into the interior with the tribes still live in the ‘Stone Age’. Peobsidian is from New Ireland. The knives are made in New Guinea for trading with the initiates (Extract from a recent (1936) publication). A very similar example is in the Backfield Museum Halifax and labelled “Admirality Islands”. Blade of Obsidian fitted with handle of Gum”.
Beginning of 20th Century.

Manus Province, Admirality Islands, Papua New Guinea
Obsidian, Wood, Parinarium nut resing paint, 25 x 5 cm (box). Good condition

Price: € 950