Group of four spears, before 1914 ·  Solomon Islands - Buka Island · ID: 3043093

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.

Comparing literature

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