An unusual Star Mountain or Upper Fly/Ok Tedi shield. Western Province, Papua New Guinea.Of hard and dense wood, deeply incised, the shield with curling motifs surrounded by circular designs and hour-glass shapes with white, pink and yellow infill. The exact origin of this shield is a mystery. An example formerly in the Henderschott collection and a small group offered at Bonhams over a decade ago all appear to be from the same locale. Having examined them in person it is quite clear that the pigment on this and other shields of this type has been recently applied over an old and blackened surface with a rich patina, probably in New Guinea, to help sell them. The style is related to the more famous Central New Guinea shields of the Telefolmin people, yet there are many notable differences. It seems most plausible that these shields come from the area just south of the border of Sandaun and Western provinces and belonged to the highland Ok on the Ok Tedi River or possibly the Most Northern of the Lowland Ok living in the foothills of the area. Seidlers own notes simply say that these were purchased from an engineer working on the Ok Tedi, which would bear this out. Acquired by Marc Seidler C. 1980. The Shield measures 41.5 inches tall x 21 inches wide.

Good, well handled and worn