Lot 144
144
A FINE ASTROLABE BAY SHIELD
A FINE ASTROLABE BAY SHIELD

Details
A FINE ASTROLABE BAY SHIELD
Of rounded rectangular form, the surface covered with bands of rattan wrapped with red, black and yellow-dyed fiber forming geometric designs, three gum native repairs to the front, fiber grip to rear
47in. (120cm.) long

Lot Essay

Cf. Stöhr, 1987, p. 336, fig.127, for a similar shield from Karkar Island. Kunze (1896, p.194) states that these shields were made by mountain dwellers on Karkar Island and were traded by the coastal tribes to other islands in the Astrolabe Bay region