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An Iatmul spear thrower from Tambanum
is made from a length of bamboo which is partly cut away on one side to allow access of the spear butt to the rear socket.
Forward of the mid-length stem joint a second slot is cut to receive the spear rest.
This rest is lashed in place by a rattan binding.
The rest is a zoomorphic carving of a number of totem animals.
The raised snout and long slit mouth of a flying fox or pig can be seen in stylised form along the lower limb of the rest.
There are limited features visible to identify the head which faces the rear socket but the incised patches and chevron design are often associated with the crocodile.
When the rest is viewed from the handle end the outline of a mwai mask can be seen.
A light weathered patina on shaft; dark brown patina on spear rest.
Material: bamboo, wood, rattan; length: 800mm; diameter: 26mm.
Provenance:
Collected from Tambanum in the 1960s.
Acquired by LukLuk Gallery from a tribal art gallery in Melbourne in 1990.
The remains of termite tunnels can be seen on the surface of the rest and it is obvious from the dark brown patina and
wood erosion around the base that the rest is a lot older than the bamboo shaft into which it is fitted.
The change of patina colour under the chin of the mwai mask indicates the rest length was adjusted to fit into the slot on the newer bamboo shaft.
Discussion:
See 'Ryan, P. 1972' - (pp.721-22) for a description in the use of a spear thrower.
Comparison:
See 'Kelm, H. 1966 (Vol.III)' - (pl.422-39) for illustrations of spear throwers from the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea.
Artefact Code:
ML0109
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