Group of four spears, before 1914

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Description

three of the spears as follows: shaft from nippa palmwood, knob of leaf fibres pressed closely together (called “uiru”), carved with a face symbolizing “kägoi” above, extremely fine plaited cuffs of orchid bast dyed in red and yellow, tip with barbs made from the wing-bones of the flying fox, the latter partly missing, the upper tips dam.; the fourth spear: Salomonen/ Bougainville Island, carved with a face, the long tip wrapped with strips of orchid bast, just one barb (bone?) preserved, dam.
“Kägoi” is a spirit, and the carving certainly symbolises the spirit that gives the spear its deadly power. The knob called “uiru” represents the spirits dwelling.

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Comparing literature

Conru, Kevin, Solomon Islands Art, Milan 2008, p. 130, ill. 77

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