New Guinea Bows and Arrows
I went to an estate auction last night and got this group of New Guinea bows and arrows. I know this is not Asian but Stephen has tolerated my posts on Pacific archery gear. The group includes two black palmwood bows, one hardwood, and one bamboo. Each bow has its rattan flat string and two bows has an extra string.
There are 28 bamboo arrows never fletched. Most have black palm wood points, a few have hardwood and five have hammered iron points. One arrow has a thick spongy shaft which is not quite round with a palmwood point.
The group is 50 years old or less.
There are 28 bamboo arrows never fletched. Most have black palm wood points, a few have hardwood and five have hammered iron points. One arrow has a thick spongy shaft which is not quite round with a palmwood point.
The group is 50 years old or less.
bows
Nock of a Palmwood bow. The object with the knobs which looks like a nut or something is an elaborate rattan lashing which keeps the string from slipping down. There are no nocks cut into this bow.
The owner used the same lashing method on all his arrows.
The owner used the same lashing method on all his arrows.
These arrows go with the bow with similar rattan lashings. it is difficult to tell because the lashings are so fine and intricate exactly what the material is. On other more boldly done arrows, lashings of hibiscus fiber can be identified.
This set includes the 59" black palmwood bow, and six bamboo arrows from 46 to 54"; all of similar but not identical construction.
This set includes the 59" black palmwood bow, and six bamboo arrows from 46 to 54"; all of similar but not identical construction.
This other set of 8 arrows has nicely carved points and open basket weave lashings. The pithy arrow is in the center.
Jack, nice gear from Guinea. If you interesting about peoples from Guinea, his bows, arrows and live generaly, I can recomendet you book The Secret Mamberano and film document Area of the ghosts from my friend photograph and traveler Laco Gulik, which was first white man in this area. He have much beautifull artefacts , include bows and arrows from here (include jungle fever for all life too), I try post here pictures of this artefact...
Peto; I see that this film is available; I will get it. And thankyou for that information. It would be nice to see New Guinea arrows with provenience, to begin to sort out the style areas if at all possible. Does your friend live nearby?
It would be excellent if you or anyone were to post pictures of New Guinea material.
It would be excellent if you or anyone were to post pictures of New Guinea material.
These 4 were gotten at a church sale, from relatives of a missionary to New Guinea.
The first one has good carving and paint. The broadhead is bamboo with a pig bristle tuft.
The second has three points, maybe for fishing.
The third has barbs with a bird beak point.
The fourth has a face carved into the foreshaft, good paint and a bird beak point.
53" and less.
The first one has good carving and paint. The broadhead is bamboo with a pig bristle tuft.
The second has three points, maybe for fishing.
The third has barbs with a bird beak point.
The fourth has a face carved into the foreshaft, good paint and a bird beak point.
53" and less.
Depends on the type. I run across tourist bows and arrows from the Indonesian (western) half of the island pretty often, but I'm not sure they'd be of much use for serious research. I sort of hope that I'm wrong on that count, though....jack farrell wrote:
It would be excellent if you or anyone were to post pictures of New Guinea material.
Hyarmendacil; I know what you mean. frankly, when a friend brought me an Indonesian archery set, I assumed it was just a tourist item. After seeing your posts, I see how it is a serious archery set. I was always suspicious about the needle type points.
More in my neighborhood, one sees Amazonian archery gear scaled in half so that tourists can fit it onto airplanes. Of course there is little collecting or historical value in such items. I have seen Yanomami (Venezulan) bows AND ARROWS in excess of six feet. One must accept the functionality of such items in the environment in which they were made. Of course, this may not fit into your and my concept of ideal.
My last items came in trade from an ATARNite some time ago. Hardwood bow, rattan flat string, bamboo arrows with hardwood points and yellow hibiscus lashings.
More in my neighborhood, one sees Amazonian archery gear scaled in half so that tourists can fit it onto airplanes. Of course there is little collecting or historical value in such items. I have seen Yanomami (Venezulan) bows AND ARROWS in excess of six feet. One must accept the functionality of such items in the environment in which they were made. Of course, this may not fit into your and my concept of ideal.
My last items came in trade from an ATARNite some time ago. Hardwood bow, rattan flat string, bamboo arrows with hardwood points and yellow hibiscus lashings.
Closeup
could you possibly show some more details of the bamboo bow?..... Some amazing work gone into those arrows...
Certainly wouldn't want to miss and hit a hard object after carving those.
dragon; The first pic has the bamboo bow near the middle of the pack and in the second pic is centered. It is merely a thick section of a smallish size pole with tapered ends.
Orda; As my friend used to say, it is only a problem if you miss the target. I think at least some more elaborate arrows were intended for people. Not gifts.
Orda; As my friend used to say, it is only a problem if you miss the target. I think at least some more elaborate arrows were intended for people. Not gifts.