Pitt Rivers Museum

Emblazoned Trobriand War Shields Collection

Trobriand War Shield Data collected at PRM:

                                                           
Made by: 1893 – Trobriand Islands
Material: Wood Plant - Pigment
Process: Carved – Painted
Collected: 1893
PRM Source: Steven’s Auction Room
Acquired: Purchased July 25, 1893

Notes:
Accession book entry (for 1892.68.1 - .4):
Purchased as part of a four (4) shield purchase from Steven’s Auction Room, July 25, 1893.
Display label as 26 2 1997: ‘MELANESIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, TROBRIAND ISLANDS’
Painted, curved (?) wooden shield.

No additional information on catalog index cards. [JC 26 2 1997]

The PRM collection of Trobriand war shields was apparently examined by Patrick Glass; see page 61 of ‘The Trobriand Code: An Interpretation of Trobriand War Shield Designs,” by Patrick Glass, Anthropos, Vol. LXXXI (1986), pp. 47-63. [JC 26 2 1997]

Length 80.5 cm [SWW]

Condition notes: This shield has lots of white paint left showing, the red is dark like dried blood. Good bird, snake and fish designs in lower portion of motif.  Open ‘E’ design. [SWW: 25.03.1997].

Photographed March 25, 1997 by Stephen Watters, California State University at Sacramento