Shield
58-17-7
From: Southwest Coast, New Guinea | New Guinea
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
| Object Number | 58-17-7 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Asmat |
| Provenience | Southwest Coast, New Guinea | New Guinea |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Wood | Plant Fiber | Pigment |
| Description | Oblong in shape, with top squared off. Van Renselaar (see card 58-17-3 for reference) states Asmat shields are made from the flat buttress-root cf. the mangrove tree. Entire surface is carved with the stylized design, the depressed areas are painted in reddish-orange and white, the ridges show traces of black. Perforations at the sides and base have strands of fibers tied in them. Back has a handclasp whose ends have shallow carving; no paint on back. |
| Length | 103 cm |
| Width | 29 cm |
| Credit Line | Bequest of Harry B. Wright, 1958 |
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