A FINE MANGROVE WOOD SHIELD ''VASEM''

Description:

Papua Selatan (New Guinea West, Central, Republic of Indonesia), Asmat
H. 160,5 cm
Outstanding, pointed-oval shield vasem of the Asmat from Papua Selatan. The upper part ends in a widened, cap-like top, which is recognisable as a strongly stylised face, while the wider, lower part is rounded. The lower side can be provisionally placed on the ground during battle and ceremonial acts. The front view is carved in deep relief with abstract, asymmetrical forms and painted in ochre; traces of lime colouring are visible in the recessed spaces. The mouth-like central area of the headpiece and the "eyes" are coloured black. The scrolled motifs are interpreted as a grouping of abstract, anthropomorphic representations that are either victims of ritualised headhunting or ancestors of the wearer. The shield shows traces of wear or use, which are possibly intentional (the shields of the deceased were sometimes ritually damaged during burial ceremonies). The uncarved back has a handle. 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 their owner's alter ego. They are always made from one piece, usually with an integral handle on the back. During fights, they are sometimes placed on the ground due to their size and weight. Sometimes elaborate spears (jukaim, fum), clubs and daggers made from human bones are used as offensive weapons. The motifs, which are always associated with ancestor worship, can in part be traced back to mainland Austronesian archetypes 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 and a mastery in the processing of organic materials. Everyday and ritual objects are decorated with meaningful ornaments.
From an old German private collection, acquired in the 1980s - Partially traces of age and small chips