Early Asmat War Shield with Intricate Carvings

An early war shield, North West Asmat Region, Papua, (early…
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An early war shield, North West Asmat Region, Papua, (early twentieth century), carved wood and natural pigments, 195.3 cm high. This finely carved and early Northwest Asmat war shield originates from the upper Unis River. The shield possesses intricate early incised designs and patination with indicates it would date to the early part of the twentieth century (if not earlier). Provenance: Reputedly collected by Dutch Missionaries. in the 1950s. Private Collection, Sydney

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  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
  • Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.

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