Headhunter’s fighting shield - Asmat - west Papua (No reserve price)
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A mid-20th-century Asmat fighting shield from Central Asmat, West Papua, carved in wood with natural pigments, measuring 152 cm high, 45 cm wide and 1.5 cm deep, in fair condition and from a private collection.
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Description from the seller
Old Fighting Shield – Central Asmat, Mid-20th Century
This powerful fighting shield from the Central Asmat region is a fine example of classic Papuan warrior art from the mid-20th century. Traditionally carried in battle and ceremonial contexts, shields like this were both protective objects and potent expressions of identity, ancestry, and spiritual strength.
The shield displays traditional Asmat symbols carved and painted in the characteristic style of the region—bold, rhythmic forms that echo ancestral figures and cosmological ideas. What makes this piece especially appealing is the subtle touch of playfulness in the design: a lively balance between strict tradition and individual artistic freedom. This slight deviation from rigid form gives the shield personality and visual dynamism, suggesting the hand and imagination of a confident maker.
Its surface shows an honest patina of age and use, enhancing its authenticity and presence. Such shields were not merely weapons of defense but also statements of courage and status, believed to carry protective power in both physical and spiritual realms.
A highly desirable piece for collectors of Asmat and Oceanic tribal art, museums, or serious enthusiasts seeking an object that combines strength, symbolism, and artistic charm.
Origin: Central Asmat, West Papua
Date: Mid-20th century
Materials: Wood, natural pigments
Condition: Old, with age-consistent wear and strong character
A classic Asmat fighting shield—rooted in tradition, yet enlivened by a playful and expressive design.
We pack securely sending worldwide
Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.) Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums
Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol
Seller's Story
my wife Paula van den Berg and I, Koos Tuber, both anthropologists, traveling a lot through Papua New Guinea and West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides). We love local tribal arts, we collected thousands and thousands of artifacts, all authentic, sometimes old, sometimes more recently but mainly used objects in local traditional cultures. We are happy to give more detailed information about the artifacts we sell here on Catawiki. Please feel free to contact us.
Translated by Google TranslateOld Fighting Shield – Central Asmat, Mid-20th Century
This powerful fighting shield from the Central Asmat region is a fine example of classic Papuan warrior art from the mid-20th century. Traditionally carried in battle and ceremonial contexts, shields like this were both protective objects and potent expressions of identity, ancestry, and spiritual strength.
The shield displays traditional Asmat symbols carved and painted in the characteristic style of the region—bold, rhythmic forms that echo ancestral figures and cosmological ideas. What makes this piece especially appealing is the subtle touch of playfulness in the design: a lively balance between strict tradition and individual artistic freedom. This slight deviation from rigid form gives the shield personality and visual dynamism, suggesting the hand and imagination of a confident maker.
Its surface shows an honest patina of age and use, enhancing its authenticity and presence. Such shields were not merely weapons of defense but also statements of courage and status, believed to carry protective power in both physical and spiritual realms.
A highly desirable piece for collectors of Asmat and Oceanic tribal art, museums, or serious enthusiasts seeking an object that combines strength, symbolism, and artistic charm.
Origin: Central Asmat, West Papua
Date: Mid-20th century
Materials: Wood, natural pigments
Condition: Old, with age-consistent wear and strong character
A classic Asmat fighting shield—rooted in tradition, yet enlivened by a playful and expressive design.
We pack securely sending worldwide
Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.) Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums
Google:Papua Blues Koos Knol
Seller's Story
my wife Paula van den Berg and I, Koos Tuber, both anthropologists, traveling a lot through Papua New Guinea and West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides). We love local tribal arts, we collected thousands and thousands of artifacts, all authentic, sometimes old, sometimes more recently but mainly used objects in local traditional cultures. We are happy to give more detailed information about the artifacts we sell here on Catawiki. Please feel free to contact us.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
No. of items
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Asmat
Country of Origin
west Papua
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Title of artwork
Headhunter’s fighting shield
Height
152 cm
Width
45 cm
Depth
1.5 cm
Provenance
Private collection
