Pitt Rivers Museum
Emblazoned Trobriand War Shields Collection
Trobriand War Shield Data collected at PRM:
1893.68.2
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: ‘Trobriand Ids. 2.10.0. £2-10s-0d].’’
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 76.5 cm [SWW]
Condition notes: This shield is very faded. Design at lower portion of the motif is somewhat unique, looks somewhat like a spiral. There are closed ‘E’ designs almost an ‘8’ or closed ‘H’. [SWW: 25.03.1997]