Arawe Shield-Kandrian Area-New Britain-New Guinea Oceanic Art
The three-part shield from the Arawe people of the Kandrian area along West New Britain’s south coast are iconic for the Bismarck Archipelago. The three planks are lashed together with strips of rattan and carved with groups of concentric circles spaced apart by columns of dentate designs. The backside is beautifully painted with an abstract pattern in red and black. The recessed handle shows extensive wear. This one comes from a Phoenix Arizona collection and is on the market for the first time in nearly 50 years. It dates to the early 20th century, stands 57” (146 cm) in height.