Southeast Asia, western Philippines, Palawan Island, Tagbanua tribe, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A fine and lengthy blowgun made from bamboo. The bamboo naturally grows with hollow internodes which makes this material ideal for blowguns. This blowgun is constructed from two pieces with one narrow shaft set inside a larger and held in place with a pitch, the pitch is also coated across the exterior of one end. The bamboo is decorated with black linear motifs that are formed by burning a rattan strip then rubbing it across the bamboo. The blowgun would have been used with darts dipped in poison, and as the name suggests, the darts were propelled by blowing through one end of the bamboo shaft. These blowguns were accurate and powerful; the darts could fly 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) to take down game. Size: 58.125" L x .75" W (147.6 cm x 1.9 cm)

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in the early 1990s; ex-Auctions Imperial, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#154833

Abrasion and chips to bamboo ridges. The resin coating is chipping off. The black line motifs are well preserved.