Papua New Guinea Wood Bow & Painted Arrows (Auction 2026-05-15, Lot 107)

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Oceania, Papua New Guinea, ca. mid to late 20th century CE. A group of carved wooden arrows with slender shafts and elongated tips, some featuring barbed or incised heads, and others adorned with painted geometric motifs in red, yellow, black, and white pigments. Several examples are further embellished with raffia fiber bindings and decorative wrappings near the haft. Traditionally used for hunting, fishing, and warfare, examples such as these were often adapted for ceremonial and dance contexts, where ornamentation and surface design played a more prominent role. Size of bow: 56.75″ L x 1.2″ W (144.1 cm x 3 cm)

Provenance: private Park City, Utah, USA collection

Bow string is attached and taut. Fraying and loosening to fiber wrappings on arrows. Great condition.