Papua New Guinea
Early 20th century - Stone Carved
11” x 28 1/2”
Provenance: Bruce Seaman, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, warfare between Mendi tribes and clans was endemic. The ‘eláyaborr’ shield, due to its small size and light weight, was commonly used in skirmishes and village raids, slung under the shoulder in battle to protect the torso and leaving both hands free for firing a bow and arrow. The U-shaped notch at the top allowed an archer to look through the gap to shoot.
The outline of the design on this ‘eláyaborr’ is incised, with red mineral pigment filling the triangular shapes at the top and bottom of the shield. Australian anthropologist D’Arcy Ryan, who first undertook research in the Mendi region in 1954, noted that this scoring might indicate skin and body hair.
For further information see D’Arcy Ryan, ‘Decorated fighting-shields from the Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands District of Papua’, Mankind, vol 5, no 6, Oct 1958.
Papua New Guinea
Early 20th century - Stone Carved
11” x 28 1/2”
Provenance: Bruce Seaman, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, warfare between Mendi tribes and clans was endemic. The ‘eláyaborr’ shield, due to its small size and light weight, was commonly used in skirmishes and village raids, slung under the shoulder in battle to protect the torso and leaving both hands free for firing a bow and arrow. The U-shaped notch at the top allowed an archer to look through the gap to shoot.
The outline of the design on this ‘eláyaborr’ is incised, with red mineral pigment filling the triangular shapes at the top and bottom of the shield. Australian anthropologist D’Arcy Ryan, who first undertook research in the Mendi region in 1954, noted that this scoring might indicate skin and body hair.
For further information see D’Arcy Ryan, ‘Decorated fighting-shields from the Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands District of Papua’, Mankind, vol 5, no 6, Oct 1958.
