A Set of Amazonian Arrows
Amazon Hunting Arrows
Amazonia (Brazil - Peru)
Last half of the 20th century
Bamboo, vegetal fiber, feathers, reed or wood
Tip Length:
83.1: 59,1cm
83.2: 61,6cm
84: 46cm
Overall Length:
83.1: 168,3cm
83.2: 170,5cm
84: 201,6cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Numbers: 83.1, 83.2, 84
Ex. American Art Market (2016)
A set of three large hunting arrows from the Amazon basin, most likely from tribes within the rainforests of Brazil or Peru. These arrows, at over 6ft long, are utilized to hunt both small and large game within the dense rainforest floor and canopy. More recently, bow and arrows are used to defend against illegal loggers and miners who encroach on indigenous tribes, where they defend their valuable land and resources.
83.1: The tip of a lightweight wood or reed with a hollowed interior. The tip of the arrow is connected to a lower segment of wood or reed with 11 barbs carved on one side. Vegetal fiber is woven in an intricate cross pattern that tightly secures the pointed tip and barbed sections together, and again to the shaft. The shaft is of bamboo with a single feather at the base held by two sections of bound vegetal fiber. Minor damage to the feather.
84.2: The tip of a lightweight wood or reed with a hollowed interior. The tip of the arrow is connected to a lower segment of wood or reed with 9 to 10 barbs carved on all four sides. Vegetal fiber is bound tightly, securing the pointed tip and barbed sections together, and again to the shaft. The shaft is of bamboo with a single feather at the base held by two sections of bound vegetal fiber. There is an old collection sticker located on the top of the shaft with the number "82".
84: The tip of a lightweight wood or reed with a hollowed interior. Below are 18 barbs carved on a single side. Vegetal fiber is bound tightly, securing the barbed section to the shaft. The shaft is bamboo with a double feather at the base held by a section of bound vegetal fiber covered in a black resin. The feathers from an exotic bird with beautiful color combinations of a virbant light blue and yellow on one side with purple and red on the reverse. There is an old collection sticker located on the top of the shaft with the number "76".
A set of rare Amazonian hunting arrows in very good condition. Locality, tribe, and age unknown but the arrows are likely around the mid to late 20th century, possibly the 1960-70s.
[1] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/312129
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1932-1111-20