Spear Item Number: 3573/25 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Chambri Lakes initiation spear. Top, flat triangular crocodile-like head, with carved and painted semi-circular eyes and a black circle on snout. Plaited twine tied with a loop. Next section is ornately carved with six flowers, with a horn-shape extending from each flower. In between each pair of flowers appears a half flower, with horn-shape extending out into crosshatched fishtail end. Next section uncarved, light brown, with black bands on top and bottom ends, and small tapered carved sections. Next section ornately carved, two flowers, with concentric semicircles extending out. Thin handle wrapped with plaited red-brown twine. Lower section has ancestral face with five barbed pieces, four of which are ornately carved. The base of which is a smooth black.

Narrative

Purchased by the donor in Hawaii, c. 1991.