War shield "eláyaborr" for archers · Papua New Guinea - Southern Highlands Province, Mendi · ID: 3050579
sold
EUR 450
Provenance
Alexander Kubetz, Munich, GermanySize
H: 90 cm
B: 35 cm
H: 35.4 inch
B: 13.8 inch
Description
wood, lime, traces of battle
A very similar shield, painted with a schematised anthropomorphic figure, published in Beran & Craig, 2005, p. 135, Fig. 5.19.
The “eláyaborr” was worn to protect the torso during battle while leaving both hands free for using the bow. It has a u-shaped notch at the top and was hung from the bowman’s shoulder.
Comparing literature
Beran, Harry & Barry Craig (ed.), Shields of Melanesia, Honolulu 2005