A fine and early fighting Dagger carved as a crocodile holding the head of an ancestor in its mouth. The forelegs of the animal embrace the shaft of the dagger. The weapon is formed of the three sting-ray spines that jutt from the top of the figures head. The attachment area is overmodeled with putty-nut paste and embelished with glass trade beads Admiralty Islands, Bismark Archipelago, PNG, Melanesia. 3 sting ray spines (two broken, one missing), glass trade beads, wood, string and parinarium nut paste. 19th century. 33.2 x 3.3 x 2.6 cm. Originally acquired from Gallery Lemaire, Amsterdam.