Miniature Bow Item Number: 3557/14 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Bow with three arrows sealed inside a plastic bag; bag is secured shut with a paper manufacturer's label stapled over the opening. Bow is wrapped with plant fibre and its string is made of the same material; arrows are attached to string and side of bow with plant fibre ties. Arrows have bamboo shafts, long wood tips, and pigment decorations along the tips; small feathers attached around bottoms of tips. Orange card inserted into bag, behind bow and arrows, with images of people using them; paragraph of text describes materials, decoration, and uses of bows and arrows.
Purchased by the donor in 1974-1975, possibly from the Wire Trade store, located on the Catholic Mission in Wewak. The items were made by the Au people of West Sepik province (Sandaun), possibly in Aitape?
Breadfruit sap was mixed with charcoal and natural paints to provide decorations on arrows.