Oceanic Asmat Sago Bowl Shield - Papua New Guinea

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A rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat tribal carved ancestral sago bowl (also known as a platter, tray, serving shield) … Read more A rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat tribal carved ancestral sago bowl (also known as a platter, tray, serving shield) crafted in the likes of the owners war shield.

Collected from the coast of the headhunter tribe in Papua New Guinea, a Provincial Indonesian island, in the mid 20th century, this impressive wooden sculpture was hand-carved and polychrome painted using only primitive tools and pigments for color. Surmounted by a male figure (owners ancestor) with intricately carved eyes, nose, and mouth, shown with one arm bent, one extended attached to lower tray, painted in red pigment obtained from ochre, white pigment from crushed limestone lighting the wood and black from black soot or a burnt piece of wood.

Having various carved symbols and shapes detailing the personal name of the bowl owner, their ancestors, as well as symbolic references to them, often giving the ancestor and in effect owner power, strength, agility etc.

They were used during festivals and ceremonies, where the larvae of the Capricorn beetle or sago worms are held in these containers, before being consumed, in effect, the clansman believed even more of the Ancestors powers would be transferred to them.

The bowl is in excellent shape with good patina. Interesting, unusual and highly decorative, it makes for a wonderful conversation piece. There is a wire across the back for wall hanging, the corresponding metal stand is also included.

Dimensions approx 32.5" High, 14.5" Wide, 2" Deep, 8 lbs.

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Brief history:
Located in southwestern New Guinea, Indonesia, the Asmat live along the coast where a vast system of rivers flow into the Arafura Sea. With an estimated population of 70,000, the Asmat are divided into several hundred villages ranging in size from 35 to 2,000 inhabitants.

Headhunting raids were an important element of Asmat culture until missionaries suppressed the practice, which, according to some accounts, persisted into the 1990s. The death of an adult, even by disease, was believed to be caused by an enemy, and relatives sought to take a head in an endless cycle of revenge and propitiation of ancestors. Heads were thought necessary for the rituals in which boys were initiated into manhood. Cannibalism was a subsidiary feature of the rituals that followed the taking of heads.

From Dirk Smidt, Asmat Art, New York: Braziller, 1993. Smidt says: 'In a culture where death was never accidental and all required avenging in a continuous cycle of warfare, shields served a practical purpose of protection but also the symbols carved on the shields radiated power, invigorating the shields owner and striking fear into the enemy.  The shields are named after dead relatives. The magical powers of the shield gave the carrier exceptional power combining his strength with that of the deceased ancestor to which the shield shared the name. The shields were used not just in battle but to scare off evil spirits that may have  brought misfortune to the village.  These shields were made for a shield feast which initiated a headhunting expedition.

Among the Asmat, war shields are the most powerful symbolic element of a warrior's equipment, and have many layers of meaning. Traditionally, they were functional items used to protect warriors in battle by deflecting an enemy's spears and arrows. The carved and painted images on the surface of the shields were also intended to frighten the enemy and symbolize the power of the ancestors.

Wood carving is a flourishing tradition among the Asmat, and wood carvers are held in high esteem. The culture hero Fumeripits is considered to be the very first wood carver, and all subsequent wood carvers (known as wowipits) have an obligation to continue his work. The Asmat also believe that there is a close relationship between humans and trees, and recognize wood as the source of life.

Ancestral imagery appears on multiple forms of Asmat art, including wood war shields. Shields were created as functional items for warfare, and were meant to protect the user from the spears and arrows of his enemy. At the same time, the imagery that is carved and painted on the surface of the shield endows the piece with the power of the ancestors, which is also intended to protect the user. The designs can be either figural or abstract, depending on the region from which the shield came. See less