Bone Knife


These knives are made of highly polished animal bones. One has a hole drilled at the wide end, indicating that it may have been used as a pendant or other decorative function. One is wrapped in a dark brown cocoon cloth and bound with a single strand of bark fiber.

Title: Bone Knife

Artist: Unknown

Creation Date: 1990s

Geography: Indonesia, Papua

Culture: Dani

Medium: Pig bone, casowary bone

Technique: Carving

Dimensions: 3.1 – 4 x 16.3 – 25.3 cm. (1.22 – 1.57 x 6.42 – 9.96 in.)

Classification: Tools & Equipment

Credit Line: Gift of Fleur Hampton in memory of Dr. O. W. Hampton, 2020

Object ID: H881, H873, H874, H880