A fairly high battle shield carved from the board-root of a mangrove tree. Bearing on its front side the typical deep carvings of the Asmat and coloured black with earth pigments. Detectable on the relief are also traces of white and red highlighting. At the tip above, the white silhouette of a head may be made out, probably depicting a powerful ancestor. The central relief consists of twelve curved elements, always mirroring each other in pairs, each outlining a repeating transversal line of 3 diamonds. The meaning of this pattern in unclear. It could be that the U-hooks represent fish (possibly rays), the fish innards or the typical for the Asmat warriors nose decoration ‘bipane’. The back of the shield is smooth and painted black. As is also the strong handle-grip, which is carved out of the same piece. On the consignor’s account, this shield originates from the Brazza river in the Citak regions. The big, thinly crafted shield exhibits age-related colour scuffing on its front side, otherwise no damage. With good usage patina ( grip!). Height: 212 cm; Width: 46 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.:
'Asmat. Leben mit den Ahnen' by Ursula and Gunter Konrad & Tobias Schneebaum, ill. p. 51 to 61.