A war shield "kliau"

Description:

Indonesia, Borneo, Kalimantan, Dayak cultures, early 20th c.
H. 124 cm, B. 34,5 cm
The shield is carved from a single piece of jelutong wood (a mangrove species) and reinforced with rattan bindings. The handle on the reverse is carved from the same block of wood and is not separately attached. The motifs on both sides of the shield were applied using stencils. The black pigment consists of burnt unripe coconut shells, while the red pigment is dragon’s blood resin ground in coconut oil. The shield demons depicted are intended as protective spirits for the warrior, as well as to intimidate the enemy. On important ceremonial occasions, the shields were also displayed publicly. The motifs usually depict one or more anthropomorphic faces with long fangs, entwined with stylised aso motifs. Shields of the Kenyah and Kayan peoples are painted on both the front and the inner side: the exterior imagery is meant to frighten the enemy, while the interior imagery serves to protect the bearer.
From an old German private collection, assembled since the 1950s