Shield
ClassificationsArms and Armor-shields
Culture
Chambri
Dateearly 20th Century
Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Collection SiteEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood and pigment
Dimensions55 1/4 × 11 1/2 × 2 1/8 in., 240 oz. (140.3 × 29.2 × 5.4 cm, 6.804 kg.)
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Object number2017.10.154
DescriptionThe shields of the Chambri people are very similar to the more prolific shields of the Iatmul. Here too, we see a large incised anthropomorphic face. The surrounding circles have been described in other Chambri shields as spirals. Looking closely at the pair of circles just below the face we can see that the design does indeed spiral outward here, which may represent eyes, eddies in water, or scarification patterns as they do in other regional art. A number of Chambri shields have been sourced back to makers on the Salumei river, indicating that this shield may have been traded for by the Chambri.On View
Not on viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
