Shield Item Number: 3383/7 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Shield with designs carved in low relief on the concave front. The pointed top has a cross-like design painted white with black outline. The body has abstract mirrored M-shaped designs in red-orange, outlined in black, with white in the negative space. Back is plain except for a single black line painted horizontally across the shield above a large vertical carved handle. Large crack extending up from bottom edge.

Narrative

According to the donor, the Asmat objects in this accession (3383/1-12), as well as one other carving sold to MOA in 1990 (1481/1), were collected by an explorer named Jim Allen during two trips: one in the spring of 1989, the other in the fall of 1989. On the second expedition they explored the remote Asmat territories of the upper Brazza and Senggo, by hiking down from the highlands.