Shield
Arts of the Pacific Islands
CULTURE
Kwoma
MEDIUM
Wood
DATES
20th century
DIMENSIONS
55 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 3 1/4in. (141 x 39.4 x 8.3cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Pacific Islands
ACCESSION NUMBER
1993.176
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Malcolm and Bryce Kirk
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
The object is a shield with a front that is deeply carved. Moving down through its horizontal sections from top to bottom, the top has two horizontal bands. It is followed by a 10 1/2 in. section of dense diamond-shaped patterns bordered by a single horizontal band. The next section, which is also 10 1/2 in., contains a symmetrical curvilinear design bordered by two horizontal bands. Next is a 22 1/2 in. section with two vertically-oriented herringbone patterns containing two circles and other geometric shapes bordered at the bottom by two horizontal bands. The lowest section which is 4 1/4 in. is a single horizontally-oriented herringbone pattern with two bands across the bottom. The shield's surface has some deep cracks, chipping, and wood loss, the wood loss being primarily along the top and bottom edges. Four sets of holes piercing the shield once held handles. The back is plain except for two contemporary metal nails and hooks for hanging the object.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Kwoma. Shield, 20th century. Wood, 55 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 3 1/4in. (141 x 39.4 x 8.3cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Malcolm and Bryce Kirk, 1993.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1993.176_transpc003.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 1993.176_transpc003.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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