The cannibal collection

A collection of tribal weapons and masks used by head-hunting cannibals in Papua New Guinea also features in Whyte's sale this afternoon.

The fearsome items, which include a hunting bow and "poisoned arrows", were collected by an Irish geologist 50 years ago when he worked for a mining company in the south Pacific. One lot comprising a "ceremonial axe" and "tribal masks decorated with curie shells, pig tusks and grasses" is estimated at €400- €600 while the bow and arrows are estimated at €150 to €250.