A MANGROVE WOOD SHIELD ''VASEM''

Description:

Papua Selatan (New Guinea West, Central, Republic of Indonesia), Asmat
H. 179 cm
Oval shield vasem of the Asmat from Papua Selatan (western part of New Guinea, politically part of Indonesia). The large Asmat shields, which occur in a similar form on Tanimbar, are both combat and protective weapons as well as status objects. The base is flattened. The front view (facing the enemy) is carved in flat relief with abstract, symmetrically scrolled forms in an upright direction and painted in red and white colour (ochre, lime). The motifs on the front are interpreted as a grouping of abstract human figures that are either victims of ritualised headhunting or ancestors of the wearer. Another interpretation is as a stylised ‘world village’ or as the initiate's path to the world beyond and back, corresponding to the Orpheus myth and the Eleusinian mysteries from classical antiquity. For this reason, only initiated men may possess (or even see) these shields. The uncarved back has an integral 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 and highly respected. They are often ritually damaged or destroyed during burial ceremonies. Sometimes elaborate spears (jukaim, fum), clubs and daggers made from human bones are used as offensive weapons. The vasem shields 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. The motifs, which are always associated with ancestor worship, can in part be traced back to mainland Austronesian archetypes (inner-Asian animal style). Some of them have counterparts 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. The nibung palm (digging sticks, bows, arrowheads, spears), mangroves (construction timber and battle shields) and the nipa palm (mats and elements for roofing) are used for tools.
From an old German private collection, acquired in the 1980s - Partially traces of age and slightly chipped