War Shield

Item number 2703/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Large carved and painted wood shield. The teardrop shape narrows with a circular shape at that end. Front decoration includes a white background, six orange curl designs joined by vertical bars with circle and semi-circle cutouts, orange horned motifs, an orange and white chain link at the edge of the shield, dark brown relief borders, and a carved zigzag aacross the narrowing. The back is unpainted and a curved handle with rectangular hole protrudes from the centre.

History Of Use

The Asmat inhabit a vast swamp on the south coast of the island of New Guinea in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya. Until recently, their culture focused on warfare and headhunting. Shields (jamasj) are protection from both the physical and spiritual powers of the enemy. The Christian missions and the Indonesian government have ended overt tribal warfare, but raids still occur in remote areas. Shield motifs, and the ancestor for whom a shield is named, give its owner power.