Specifications

• Height: 119 cm
• Material: wood, pigments
• Position:
• Gender:
• Indigenous name: Qòbòen
• Price realised: NC (€ 3-3.600,-)

Provenance

Franco Monti, Milan, Dorotheum, Vienna 4-12-2018, lot 118

Publications

Rome 1962 Africa, America Precolombina, Oceania, fig. 48, exhibition catalogue

Additional information

This is an Awyu shield, hailing from the western district of the Mapi Digul area. Although the shield was described in the auction catalogue as ‘early’, we have to take two considerations in account: the pattern shows a deviation from the older designs on these shields, i.e. the lower part is not worked out well; second the upper part shows an invention, a mytre and a bishop’s staff. These latter motives are most probably the result of the reconciliation ceremony that took place in Kepi in july 1951 and lasted a week and in which thousands of Jaqai and Awyu partook.

Photo credits

Dorotheum, Vienna