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Man arrow point, 19th century
Bamboo, wood, lime, gum, bindings
55.9 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm (22.25 x 1.5 x 1.5 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.291

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Charles Ratton Collection, Paris." (Catalog #496, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 168.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "Torres Strait arrows can be classified into "three main groups which, respectively, have wooden, bamboo or bone points" (Haddon, 1894: 46). The man arrow, included as one of several varieties in the category of arrows with bone points, was used in warfare, at least according to some earlier scholars (ibid., 51-53, fig. 18; see also Landtman, 1927, fig. 32a), an opinion repeated by later authors (Moore, 1984: 103b). Meyer (1995: 97, caption to fig. 81) also maintains that such arrows were "used exclusively for warfare." However, a contradictory view, based on firsthand oral history accounts, is held by David Lawrence (1994: 368b). According to him "they were never used in warfare or hunting" but "in secret ceremonies to wound people found breaking custom; in ritual woundings and killings, particularly in the case of adultery" (ibid.). I believe the latter view is correct, at least for these two examples, given their size and complexity. Man arrows are found throughout the Torres Strait. Opop and parulaig, the two different terms used for these arrows in their respective islands of origin (see above), both mean "face" (Haddon, 1894: 51), in reference to the remarkable face of a standing male figure carved just beneath the arrow point. According to Haddon (ibid., 46) "all the arrows used in Torres Straits come from the mainland of New Guinea." They are said to have been made by the Kiwai people at the mouth of the Fly River and traded south mainly in exchange for shell ornaments (Herle & Philip, 1998: 11). I believe the arrows incorporate a double image, as follows: When viewed from the side, the shoulder and arm become a gaping mouth; the penis, knees, and legs become fins; and the object appears to be a male head in the mouth of a shark. This is somewhat similar to the Massim peoples' abote motif: a bird head in the mouth of a barracuda or crocodile. Similar motifs are also found in Geelvink Bay (Teluk Cenderawasih) in northwestern New Guinea (West Papua) and in the Solomon Islands." (Catalog #496, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 168.)

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point arrow Man Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 168 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art Guinea New 496 Catalog Paris Ratton Charles people Kiwai Oceania Province Western Islands Strait Torres Australia Armor Arms bindings gum lime wood Bamboo 0709200406050147 A361206 L05.1.291 AOA