
B21
Nipa Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
This shield shows a typical Nipa Valley design – the central circle. On occasions the whole shield is painted white, but here it has been reduced to a simple line around the dramatic red circle in the centre. The rest of the shield has been left natural wood, which has blackened over time; probably from storage in a smoky hut or above a fire, that helps to harden and protect the wood of the shield. The red design is fresh, and most probably re-painted several times over its life.
Size: SIZE: 136 X 42 CM