Posted 10 years ago
ATTWOOD
(155 items)
Asmat cassowary bone dagger from Papua (Irian Jaya). The hood is twined bark string. The tassels are made of cassowary feathers, seed and bone.
Though you’ve probably never heard of it, the cassowary is one very real bird that’s hard to miss. Standing between 5 and 7 feet tall (dwarfed only by the ostrich and emu), the Southern Cassowary is a flightless bird belonging to the order Palaeognathae (ratites). It inhabits the tropical rain forests of Australia, New Guinea and the Aru Islands where it patrols the rain forest floor in search of fallen fruits, insects, small reptiles and the occasional rodents.
I have seen cassowary in the wild they are a very dangerous bird,with their deadly sharp claws and horn on the top of the head,which I have a necklace made of cassowary horn from the head.
Glad to see this Rose! Where did you acquire it?
Apparently cassowaries have been seen wandering the streets of Cooktown. ...I would be a bit worried. Are they as dumb and curious as emus?
I acquired this from an auction last week.This type of thing can no longer come in or go out of the country.The other one I posted with carvings is worth 3 times more than this feathered beaded one.
They live in rainforests and I saw them at south mission beach after cyclone Larry.Seems only 1 mother and her chics survived Larry but they were crossing a road and chics were very cute.I havent seen them in heards like emu.I think they are solitary
They are timid unlike the emu who are curious
thanks for the love
Rose
I think this dagger may have same origin as cassowary horned necklace