Qauata Parrying Shield – Eastern Solomon Islands This striking qauata originates from the Eastern Solomon Islands, an area renowned for its finely crafted wooden shields. Unlike typical defensive implements, the qauata was primarily a parrying shield, designed to deflect blows rather than strike, combining practicality with symbolic power. Carved from lightweight hardwood, this shield exhibits the elegant, elongated form characteristic of the region. Its gently curved surface and balanced proportions allowed for both agile handling in combat and prominent display in ceremonial contexts. The front is adorned with carefully incised geometric motifs and symbolic markings, representing ancestral protection and clan identity. The back retains subtle traces of handling, indicating its authentic ritual and martial use. Acquired through field collection, this shield retains a warm, natural patina developed over decades of ceremonial handling. It embodies the inseparable connection between ancestral power, social status, and martial skill, reflecting the Eastern Solomon Islands’ rich cultural and spiritual traditions. An exceptional example of Oceanic weaponry, this qauata is highly desirable for serious collectors, galleries, and museums, offering both aesthetic appeal and deep ethnographic significance. 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