2 fine Mendi shields to view.

Tim Simmons · 23rd June 2015, 08:54 PM

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.

spiral · 24th June 2015, 09:04 AM

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?

Tim Simmons · 24th June 2015, 11:10 AM

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.

Sajen · 24th June 2015, 12:11 PM

Hello Tim,

sorry, but they look rather recent to my eyes.

Regards,
Detlef

Tim Simmons · 24th June 2015, 12:54 PM

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/

Tim Simmons · 24th June 2015, 05:27 PM

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+

colin henshaw · 27th June 2015, 10:30 AM

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.

Tim Simmons · 27th June 2015, 11:21 AM

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.

Sajen · 27th June 2015, 12:42 PM

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

Tim Simmons · 27th June 2015, 04:37 PM

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.

Sajen · 27th June 2015, 04:58 PM

Yes, agree with you Tim!

But the eye-catcher is the very nice shoulder shield on the left!

Regards,
Detlef

23rd June 2015, 08:54 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	2 fine Mendi shields to view. 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. Attached Images

24th June 2015, 05:27 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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+ Attached Images

27th June 2015, 11:21 AM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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. Attached Images

27th June 2015, 12:42 PM	#9
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,791	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 Attached Images

27th June 2015, 04:37 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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. Attached Images

24th June 2015, 09:04 AM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	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?

24th June 2015, 11:10 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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.

24th June 2015, 12:11 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,791	Hello Tim, sorry, but they look rather recent to my eyes. Regards, Detlef

24th June 2015, 12:54 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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/

27th June 2015, 10:30 AM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	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.

27th June 2015, 04:58 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,791	Yes, agree with you Tim! But the eye-catcher is the very nice shoulder shield on the left! Regards, Detlef