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#1 |
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Picked up two new shields today. They are rather fine with a nice lustrous shine to the patina. They are carved from a heavy hard wood. One 117cm high the other 115cm. According to "Shields of Melanesia, edited by Harry Beran and Barry Craig, Hawaii university press 2005" These oval archers shoulder shields are the most important battle shields and always carved from hard wood. Used as the main static lines in set battles unlike the smaller heart shaped archers shields, which I assume are easier to run around with in a skirmish mode. From the a fore mentioned publication I include a picture of a very fine painted example. You can see the the decoration is based on the same design. The examples I have show residue white clay inlay to highlight the cut design.
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#2 |
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Hi Tim,
They look made from planks of timber rather than hewn from a trunk? Is that how they should be made? I have no idea but seems strange to me? |
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#3 |
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In essence they are carved from planks taken length ways from a tree trunk. 45 cm wide with a convex surface and slight concave back. Heavy.
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#4 |
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Hello Tim,
sorry, but they look rather recent to my eyes. ![]() Regards, Detlef |
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#5 |
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Well I am not going to struggle to take better pictures. Obviously I can see them in the flesh so to speak but here is one with the same decoration except painted.
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/co...on/work/80242/ |
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#6 |
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A more moody picture. You can just discern a black tint in places on the wood, what is left of a black paint. Most observable in the bottom left arc. I have found this interesting PHD thesis on Mendi ans Sluka colour. Scroll down to page 53 and you will find lots of useful shield information which one would not find in the collecting world. Shields were repainted when the colour wore off or at an owners whim. I think in this picture you get some idea of use wear. I do not have the camara and lighting skills to show things at there best. What I thought was white clay inlay is after x10 inspection, places where the red paint is flaked off showing the rougher untouch wood.
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3562/1/Rowe...ESIS.pdf?DDD5+ |
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#7 |
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From the images, I agree the shields seem to be of quite recent manufacture, being very crisp and smooth. Perhaps made in the last 20-30 years ? However, as is often the case with New Guinea material, they could still have been made for indigenous tribal use, rather than sale.
Regards. |
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#8 |
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Thanks for your input Colin always respected. I am not so sure that every thing is crisp the shields show considerable wear in places. Again it is hard to show without the items in hand.
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#9 |
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Hello Tim,
you have to consider the extreme climate circumstances in this area of the world which will let look even a hard wood very soon worn. The wood of your two shields look very unworn so my age guess. Have attached some pictures of similar shields which show clearly age. Regards, Detlef |
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#10 |
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Well they may not be as artistic and old as those museum pieces but they have been in use for what ever reason at some time and look cool on the wall.
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#11 |
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Yes, agree with you Tim!
![]() ![]() Regards, Detlef |
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