Dagger Made Of Cassowary Or Human Bone

Asmat culture, West Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia.

Carved bone (casuarina or human, according to Jean-Pierre Dutilleux), plant fibers, organic elements

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection, assembled during field missions

Specimen reproduced in TRIBES – The First People

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DESCRIPTION

Asmat ceremonial dagger carved from a long bone, described by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux as possibly being of cassowary or human origin.

The blade, naturally tapered and slightly curved, features a finely polished antique surface, revealing a beautiful patina from use. The upper part is adorned with plant fiber bindings and decorative organic elements, giving the piece a particularly striking visual presence.

Within Asmat culture, these daggers hold an important place in the realms of warfare, ceremony, and symbolism. Specimens preserved with documented field provenance remain rare on the market.

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PROVENANCE AND PUBLICATION

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection, assembled during ethnographic expeditions in West Papua.

This dagger is reproduced in the reference work TRIBES – The First People, where it is described as a “cassowary or human bone dagger.”