Big war shield "yemes" · Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat · ID: 3047913
sold
EUR 2,300
Provenance
Lempertz, Brussels, 15 June 2016, Lot 32Alfons Bermel, Berlin, Germany
Size
H: 176 cm
B: 70 cm
H: 69.3 inch
B: 27.6 inch
Description
mangrove wood, completely covered with dark patina, the stylized face at the top represents the stingray “puru”, the corpus carries emblems that are related to head hunting (flying fox “tar” and “bipane” motifs); perforations for decorative tassels on the rim, the back is painted
The relationship between shield and owner was very close and the shields were of high symbolic and emotional value.
When the owner died, the shield was split into two pieces lengthwise, covering the corpse wrapped in mats and laid out for burial. Alternatively, the shield could also be passed on to the son of the deceased.
Comparing literature
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Berlin 1996, p. 143