War shield "kumbe reipe"

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, red and white pigment, rounded on top and at the bottom, constant vertical middle ridge on the front side, the upper third painted with red and white pigment, two drilled holes for fixation of a handle, slightly dam., abrasion of pigment;
present war shield was collected in situ by a german missionary in 1968. The original owner was a man called Bedlep from the Muga tribe in theWestern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.