Rare painted war shield, 19th century
Paulian Association’s “New Guinea Primitive Arts”, Dymocks Arcade, Sydney, Australia (1996) (D9108)
Jean Paul Deslypere, Belsele, Belgium
Founded in Sydney in 1956 as the Paulian Association, „Palms Australia“ began with community groups in around 100 locations to identify local issues, reflect on values, and took appropriate action to address social inequality and to assist those in need. Recognising the need for similar efforts globally, in 1961 the organization, then known as the Paulian Association Lay Missionary Secretariat („Palms“), extended its programs overseas and placed over 1,500 volunteers in 40 countries, including Papua New Guinea.
„Palms“ celebrated and promoted Papua New Guinea traditional art through two galleries for many decades until 2000, including the famous „New Guinea Tribal Arts“ in the Dymocks building in Sydney. The Palms Corporate Collection currently being offered for sale are the final items to be sold by „Palms“ and, previously, the Paulian Association.
Description
wood, pigments, rattan (handle),
The pear-shaped shield has a considerable thickness of 3.5 to 4 cm. The rim is bevelled. The front shows dark discolouration, the painting is rubbed in places.
Only a few such shields are known. A comparable, also early work from the 19th century, ex Harry Beran Collection, is published in Anthony JP Meyer, Vol. I, Cologne 1995, p. 148, ill. 144. The same shield is illustrated in Hamson & Aldridge, where it is called “vayola, kaikatake:ra” (ibid., 2009, p. 160 f.).
These shields were reserved for powerful, high-ranking warriors. The painting has so far been analysed with little success. As with most New Guinea shields it is probably safe to assume the painted designs served a dual purpose - to empower and protect the warrior holding the shield and confuse or somehow deplete the opposite combatant hurtling spears from the other side.