Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, ca. early 20th century CE. A wooden archer's shield with a U-shaped top and a pointed bottom that give it a heart shaped profile. Two perforations at the top of the shield allow for a fiber cord to be attached for suspension. This strap was worn over one shoulder and the shield hangs under the armpit to protect the archer's side. The surface is painted with a pigment that may have been white once, but has darkened, likely due to smoke from open fires. Size: 33" L x 19" W (83.8 cm x 48.3 cm)
Provenance: ex-old private New England collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Aase B. and Frederick C. Thompson Foundation, Florida, USA since the early 1980s; gifted to the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, Florida, USA 1990-2010, inv.# AC09.1.61
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#159398
Condition
Dark residue on surface, likely from years near fire and smoke. Fraying and bending of fiber cord. Stable fissures near drilled holes. Nicks, chips, and losses to peripheries. Expected surface abrasions commensurate with age and use.