Iben Shield

This large shield is carved in low relief with curvilinear decoration.
Shields from the Green River region are called iben by the Abau people who live along the Sepik River, upstream from its junction with the Yellow River
. This very large, handleless shield was carried and moved by a warrior. Placed in front, it protected its fellow creatures.
Shields were carved from the stilt-roots of tall trees (kofekan).
After cutting the board to the required shape and thickness, the pattern was marked with charcoal.
A sharp stone chip was then used to demarcate the lines of the black design, which was generally bilaterally symmetrical, and the wood was hollowed out between the lines to a depth of around five millimeters with a cassowary bone chisel.
The chiselled surfaces were then covered with red or orange ochre and white pigment; the raised bands were highlighted in black.
The compositions were not intended to be figurative, but names referring to the characteristics of certain plants or animals could sometimes be attributed to specific motifs.

Price: €18,000

sold without base