Description:

A MANGROVE WOOD SHIELD
Papua Selatan (New Guinea West, Central, Republic of Indonesia), Asmat
H. 182 cm
Large rectangular-oval shield vasem of the Asmat from Papua Selatan (western part of New Guinea, politically part of Indonesia). The upper part tapers to a pointed oval, the lower part is flattened so that it can be placed provisionally on the ground. The front view (facing the opponent) is carved in bas-relief with abstract red and white, symmetrically arranged forms and painted with lime and ochre. The motif is interpreted as a double abstract human figure. The colour scheme is typical of Asmat art. The shield shows signs of wear or use, which may be intentional (the shields of the deceased were sometimes ritually damaged during burial ceremonies). Shields of this type were once carried in tribal feuds for the purpose of ritual headhunting, otherwise they are stored in men's houses, are highly respected and fulfil the role of an alter ego of their owner. They are always made from one piece, with an integral handle on the back. During fights, they are sometimes placed on the ground because of their size; elaborate spears (jukaim, fum), clubs and daggers made from human bones are sometimes used as offensive weapons. The motifs, which are always associated with ancestor worship, can in part be traced back to continental-Austronesian archetypes (abstracted animal style) and, according to some interpretations, represent a mythical primordial village or the path of the initiate to the world beyond and back. They have partial equivalents in eastern Indonesia (Maluku). The material culture of the hunting and fishing Asmat is characterised by elaborate carvings. Everyday and ritual objects are decorated with ornaments. These include paddles, bumpers, shields and spears, as well as canoes, which carry the souls of the deceased into the ocean, and ancestral poles. Bartering takes place between the communities. The most important family group is a clan grouped around a men's house (jeu). This is where the men live after leaving their parental home until they marry. The Asmat marry outside their group (exogamy). The nibung palm (digging sticks, bows, arrowheads, spears), mangroves (construction timber and battle shields) and the nipa palm (mats and elements for roofing) are used for tools. Lianas and rattan provide bindings, wickerwork and bowstrings. Bamboo is used to make axe handles, blow horns and water containers.
From an old German private collection, acquired in the 1980s - Minor traces of age, partly slightly chipped and short crack

Schild ''vasem'' aus Mangrovenholz
Papua Selatan (Neuguinea West-, Zentral-, Republik Indonesien), Asmat
H. 182 cm
Großer rechteckig-ovaler Schild vasem der Asmat aus Papua Selatan (westlicher Teil Neuguineas, politisch zu Indonesien gehörend). Der obere Teil läuft spitzoval aus, der untere ist abgeflacht, um ihn provisorisch auf den Boden setzten zu können. Die vordere Ansicht (dem Gegner zugewandt) ist im Flachrelief mit abstrakten roten und weißen, symmetrisch angelegten Formen beschnitzt und mit Kalk und Ocker bemalt. Das Motiv wird als doppelte abstrahierte Menschenfigur interpretiert. Die Farbgestaltung ist typisch für die Asmat-Kunst. Der Schild zeigt Spuren des Tragens bzw. Benutzens, die möglicherweise intendiert sind (bei Bestattungsfeierlichkeiten wurden die Schilde des Verstorbenen teilweise rituell beschädigt). Schilde dieser Art wurden früher bei Stammesfehden zum Zweck der rituellen Kopfjagd getragen, ansonsten werden sie in Männerhäusern eingelagert, werden hoch geachtet und haben die Rolle eines alter ego ihres Besitzers inne. Sie sind stets aus einem Stück gefertigt, mit integralem Griff auf der Rückseite. Bei Kämpfen werden sie wegen der Größe teilweise auf den Boden aufgesetzt; als Angriffswaffen dienen teilweise aufwendige, mit Wurfbrettern geschleuderte Speere (jukaim, fum), Keulen und Dolche aus Menschenknochen. Die immer mit dem Ahnenkult im Zusa

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