Bouclier, fin du 19e / début du 20e siècle ·  Indonésie - Sulawesi, Golfe de Tomini ou Kulawi · ID: 3053181

Description

wood, black paint, nassa shell, animal fur, base

According to Barbier, these exceptionally narrow shields were used in war dances that included mock sword combats, as seen in an early photograph from 1919/20 (see Benitez & Barbier, 2000, p. 156, ill. 81).

The triangular inlays are said to have originally been made of bone, while the decorative tufts were crafted from real human hair. The latter were reportedly taken from the victims of the shield’s owner.

Littérature comparée

Barbier, Jean Paul & Purissima Benitez-Johannot, Shields, Munich, London, New York 2000, p. 156 f.