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Papua Shield

Large Asmat Carved Wood Shield, Papua New Guinea, 1970s
Large Asmat Carved Wood Shield, Papua New Guinea, 1970s

Large Asmat Carved Wood Shield, Papua New Guinea, 1970s

Located in Wien, AT

Impressive hand carved wooden shield by the Asmat people of Papua New Guinea, featuring bold symmetrical motifs and traces of original white and dark pigment.

Category

Vintage 1970s Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Large Hand Carved Asmat Shield from Papua New Guinea, 1970s
Large Hand Carved Asmat Shield from Papua New Guinea, 1970s

Large Hand Carved Asmat Shield from Papua New Guinea, 1970s

Located in Wien, AT

Large hand carved Asmat shield from Papua, New Guinea, featuring an expressive symmetrical composition with traditional scroll and ancestral motifs in natural earth pigments of white...

Category

Vintage 1970s Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Papua New Guinea Carved-Wood Lumi Shield on Custom Iron Stand
Papua New Guinea Carved-Wood Lumi Shield on Custom Iron Stand

Papua New Guinea Carved-Wood Lumi Shield on Custom Iron Stand

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Papua New Guinea carved-wood Lumi shield from the mid-20th century.

Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Iron

Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea This large, post contact, shield is traditionally decorated in bold colors with a central circle.

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Other Tribal Art

Materials

Enamel, Wire

Oceanic Vintage Shield, Tribal Wall Art, Papua New Guinea, Late 19th Century
Oceanic Vintage Shield, Tribal Wall Art, Papua New Guinea, Late 19th Century

Oceanic Vintage Shield, Tribal Wall Art, Papua New Guinea, Late 19th Century

Located in Odense, DK

A large decorative and rare hand carved tribal war shield in traditional colors, made in Papua New Guinea in the late 19th century.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Papua New Guinean Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Tapa Tribal Dance Shield, New Guinea
Antique Tapa Tribal Dance Shield, New Guinea

Antique Tapa Tribal Dance Shield, New Guinea

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Tapa dance shield. Baining People, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Bamboo, Natural Fiber

Monumental Oceanic Asmat People Carved Painted Wooden War Shield
Monumental Oceanic Asmat People Carved Painted Wooden War Shield

Monumental Oceanic Asmat People Carved Painted Wooden War Shield

Located in Forney, TX

A monumental, rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat People tribal carved war shield from the first half of the 20th century, collected from the coast of the headhunting tribe in Pa...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Important Oceanic Carved Asmat Tribal Sago Bowl Serving Platter after War Shield
Important Oceanic Carved Asmat Tribal Sago Bowl Serving Platter after War Shield

Important Oceanic Carved Asmat Tribal Sago Bowl Serving Platter after War Shield

Located in Forney, TX

A rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat tribal carved ancestral sago bowl (also known as a platter, serving shield and tray) crafted in the likes of the owners war shield.

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Recent Sales

Yuat River, Papua New Guinea Dance Shield
Yuat River, Papua New Guinea Dance Shield

Yuat River, Papua New Guinea Dance Shield

Unavailable

H 67 in W 10 in D 4 in

Yuat River, Papua New Guinea Dance Shield

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

The shield of classical form with three stylized faces with overhanging beaked muzzles. The whole with fine pigmentation and with original handle to reverse. A late example, used in ...

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Highland New Guinea Fighting Shield
Highland New Guinea Fighting Shield

Highland New Guinea Fighting Shield

Unavailable

H 65.5 in W 24 in D 0.5 in

Highland New Guinea Fighting Shield

Located in New York, NY

From Wahgi Valley, Western Highland

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood, Pigment

Hand Carved Antique Shield from New Guinea
Hand Carved Antique Shield from New Guinea

Hand Carved Antique Shield from New Guinea

Located in Dallas, TX

Hand Carved Antique Ceremonial Shield from Northwest Asmet Region of New Guinea.

Category

Antique 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Nukuma Washkuk Mindja from New Guinea African Shield or Mask
Nukuma Washkuk Mindja from New Guinea African Shield or Mask

Nukuma Washkuk Mindja from New Guinea African Shield or Mask

Located in Milford, NH

From Amaki village, the board of classical design is from Amaki village with a large central face deeply concave against the body, the nose pointing downward with smiling mouth. The ...

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Pectorial Shield Shell Papua New Guinea
Early 20th Century Pectorial Shield Shell Papua New Guinea

Early 20th Century Pectorial Shield Shell Papua New Guinea

Located in Vosselaar, BE

A late 19th-early 20th century pectorial shield made from a giant shell. Still remaining some of its original red paint and straps at the back. This piece has a lovely patina and att...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Natural Specimens

Materials

Shell

Oceanic Carved Shield / Ancestral Plaque from Papua New Guinea
Oceanic Carved Shield / Ancestral Plaque from Papua New Guinea

Oceanic Carved Shield / Ancestral Plaque from Papua New Guinea

By Oceanic Arts

Located in San Francisco, CA

Unusual elaborately carved shield or ancestral plaque. Human head carved on top, decorated with white paints, shells and fiber. Blackwater River region, from the Iatmul tribe. Purcha...

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Natural Fiber, Hardwood

Pair of Oceanic War Shields on Stands from Papua New Guinea
Pair of Oceanic War Shields on Stands from Papua New Guinea

Pair of Oceanic War Shields on Stands from Papua New Guinea

Located in Atlanta, GA

A pair of Papua New Guinea wooden shields on custom stands from the mid 20th century.

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Papua New Guinea Irian Jaya Indonesia Asmat Carved Wood Shield, 19th Century
Papua New Guinea Irian Jaya Indonesia Asmat Carved Wood Shield, 19th Century

Papua New Guinea Irian Jaya Indonesia Asmat Carved Wood Shield, 19th Century

Located in Studio City, CA

Asmat shields are also distinguished by their finial elements, in this case, a pleasing-looking figure sitting atop keeping watch.

Category

Antique 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Mendi Shield painted shield Papua New Guinea
Mendi Shield painted shield Papua New Guinea

Mendi Shield painted shield Papua New Guinea

Sold

H 37.41 in W 9.85 in D 3.94 in

Mendi Shield painted shield Papua New Guinea

Located in London, GB

A Mendi war or dance shield with painted figure Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea With painted figure which is thought to represent a ancestor Oval shaped medium we...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Shield New Guinea
Antique Shield New Guinea

Antique Shield New Guinea

Sold

H 57 in W 12 in

Antique Shield New Guinea

Located in Montecito, CA

Unique shield from New Guinea.

Category

Antique 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

New Guinea Tribal Shield
New Guinea Tribal Shield

New Guinea Tribal Shield

Sold

H 83.75 in W 17.25 in

New Guinea Tribal Shield

Located in New York, NY

Carved wood with white, red and yellow decoration. From the Sepik River region. Provenance: Acquired from the Harry A. Franklin Gallery, Beverly Hills, circa in 1975.

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Folk Art Tribal Art

Melo Melo Shell Shields, 20th c
Melo Melo Shell Shields, 20th c

Melo Melo Shell Shields, 20th c

Sold

H 15.25 in W 9 in D 5.6 in

Melo Melo Shell Shields, 20th c

Located in San Marino, CA

A pair of ceremonial shields on stands, made from Melo melo shells.

Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Primitives

People Also Browsed

Late 19th-Early 20th White Bailer Shell Pectoral, Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Late 19th-Early 20th White Bailer Shell Pectoral, Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Late 19th-Early 20th White Bailer Shell Pectoral, Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Late 19th-early 20th Bailer shell pectoral, Highlands, possibly Mendi People, Papua New Guinea These large shell pectorals were worn ceremonially by men and women in Papua New Guine...

Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Natural Specimens

Materials

Shell

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century
Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century

$32,599

H 40.56 in W 3.94 in D 1.38 in

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century

Located in Delft, NL

A Tonga Pakipaki war club, Polynesia, 18th century An exceptional ironwood war club originating from Tonga, Polynesia. 18th century and hand carved with complex geometric patterns...

Category

Antique 18th Century Polynesian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

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Papua Shield For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the papua shield you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, metal and iron, every papua shield was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a papua shield — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right papua shield, those designed in styles are of considerable interest. A well-made papua shield has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Oceanic Arts are consistently popular.

How Much is a Papua Shield?

Prices for a papua shield can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $900 and can go as high as $8,300, while the average can fetch as much as $3,585.

Finding the Right Folk-art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.