Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Manus Province, ca. 19th century CE. A rare obsidian-bladed knife (known locally as a gudom or katjo) with a paranarium nut resin handle colored with earthy red, charcoal, and lime powder pigment. The knapped blade bulges outward on one face and features extremely sharp peripheral edges. The resinous handle wraps around one end of the blade and exhibits a soft texture that facilitates its grip. Incised linear and triangular motifs decorate both sides of the handle. Size: 9.8" L x 2.25" W (24.9 cm x 5.7 cm); 7.8" H (19.8 cm) on included custom stand.

For a stylistically similar example, please see The British Museum, museum number Oc1928,0314.54

For another stylistically similar example with a figural handle, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1978.412.752

Provenance: ex-private Lissauer collection, Sydney, Australia, acquired in 2017

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#154523

Repairs to handle at tip and areas of upper shoulder, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines, and resurfacing with overpainting along repair to tip. Minor nicks to blade commensurate with knapping and use, with fading to original handle pigment, a few stable hairline fissures to handle, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout and remains of pigment on handle.