Shield
- Culture
- New Britain artist
- Date
- late 19th to mid-20th century
- Material
- Wood, rattan, lime, and pigments
- associated with
- West New Britain province, Papua New Guinea, Oceania
- Classification
- Arms & armor
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 55 5/8 x 12 5/16 x 1 15/16 in. (141.3 x 31.3 x 5 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 54:1977
NOTES
This style of shield was used by people living around the western end of New Britain and along much of the southern coast of the island. The shield is made from three curved planks. The painted design on the back of the shield may refer to a life force or perhaps a spirit found in the forest. Many shields from New Britain were highly decorated and used more for dancing than fighting. In New Britain, performances often feature a group of men dancing in chorus.
Provenance
by 1975 - 1977
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA [1]
1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] Morton D. May lent this object to the Saint Louis Art Museum in 1975 [loan number 1975.361].
[2] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, April 14, 1977.
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA [1]
1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] Morton D. May lent this object to the Saint Louis Art Museum in 1975 [loan number 1975.361].
[2] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, April 14, 1977.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.