Asmat Shield, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, Oceania

Small Asmat shield made of wood and natural pigments, surmounted by an ancestor's head. Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea. Brought back in the 1980s. The handle on the back is in very good condition. Slight crack on the left side, a chip to the decoration and the nose (see photo).

"The Asmat people call themselves 'people of the tree' because they believe that the original man was carved from wood. The Asmat therefore consider themselves living trees, with feet for roots, arms for branches, and the body for the trunk, the fruit being gathered in the head. This explains the representation of the fruit bat, which feeds on the fruit, or the praying mantis, which is known for severing the male's head during mating. These kinetic motifs cause visual disturbance in the enemy, with the aim of frightening them." For the Asmat, their shield is inhabited by the spirit of an ancestor who protects it.

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