This work serves as a poignant reminder of species that have become extinct. During the colonial era, the Sawfish population residing in Lake Sentani, Papua, faced relentless hunting for its distinctive saw, leading to the dispersion of these specimens into ethnographic collections worldwide. The last recorded sighting of this species in the lake dates back to 1974. Interestingly, the saw has persisted as a sought-after collector’s item, available online or discovered in antique shops. Curiosity led me to inquire about its current availability, prompting visits to numerous antique shops along Surabaya Street in Jakarta. Eventually, someone emerged to showcase the elusive artifact.
Link to Saywer’s Dust III