Asmat shield - Asmat - Papua New Guinea

This is an original Asmat shield, also called a jamasj, originating from the West Papua region in Indonesia. The dimensions are 195 by 45 cm.
These traditional wooden shields were made by the Asmat people for use in warfare and to provide protection against enemy arrows and spears.
They are often crowned with an ancestor figure representing a deceased family member, giving the warrior strength and courage during battles.
The shields are richly decorated with intricate carvings and natural pigments (such as red, white and black), representing ancestral and martial symbolism.
Besides their functional use in the past, these pieces are today highly valued as tribal art and as collectibles.