Asmat Shield
name: label: Donor Name
content: Edward H. Smith Jr.
notes: label: Notes
content: The wooden shield (usually made from plank root of mangrove tree) is carved in high relief on the front side with three light brown figures painted against a white (usually white lime) recessed background field. Principal motif represents three closely related ancestors shown squatting one above the other, arms raised seemingly as protection from danger. Back side is plainer, painted white with beige double zigzag/diamonds. Ridge down the center with two holes for grip. Shields named after ancestors and formerly carved for use in headhunting raids to avenge the ancestor's death.
label: Record Last Modified
content: 2 Dec 2014
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Irian Jaya (Western New Guinea/Papua), Indonesia, Melanesia
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Asmat
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 361230
label: USNM Number
content: E431887-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Shield
physicalDescription: label: Length
content: 138.5 cm
label: Width
content: 37.5 cm
label: Height
content: ca. 9 cm