Shoulder shield "wörrumbi" ·  Papua New Guinea - Southern Highlands, Mendi · ID: 3035686

Description

hardwood, blackish brown ground, simple patterns in red and white pigment, of oval form, board-shaped flat, vertical middle ridge on the front side, gripping device of plant fibre cord, slightly dam., cracks (right rim, upper end), abrasion of paint;
used by bowmen, the “wörrumbi” was the most important battle shield. It was carried only when clans opposed each other in open lines of battle. The timber was any of a variety of hardwood, either split from the trunk or shaped and trimmed from a buttress root.

The object Shoulder shield “wörrumbi” with the object ID 3035686 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 31 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,400.

You can find more Shields and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Beran, Harry & Barry Craig (ed.), Shields of Melanesia, Honolulu 2005, p. 136