A Fine and rare Enga bark shield, Enga province, Papua New Guinea.Of hardened bark over a frame with a central strut and horizontal reinforcing ribs, the whole covered with a thick resinous surface. A fine and old, rare example.Enga bark shields (unlike those of their neighbors) are never painted and are blackened by a mixture of resinous tree-sap and soot from the cooking fires. These shields rarely come to market. This is a fine and old example showing age and traditional use.Acquired by Marc Seidler in the Highlands. This shield measures 55.5 inches tall x 18 inches wide.

Fair, weathered, encrusted thick resin soot surface