Pitt Rivers Museum

Emblazoned Trobriand War Shields Collection

 

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. [i.e. £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 830.5 cm [SWW]

Condition notes: This shield is has a lot of white left. There are open ‘C’ designs. There is a pronounced fish motif in the lower design. Design at top has four designs. The surface of this shield is scuffed. [SWW: 25.03.1997]

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 85.5 cm [SWW]

Condition notes: This shield has a brighter white with more paint left. Open ‘C” shape. Four sections on top design and lots of ‘||||||||’ marks in motif. [SWW: 25.03.1997]