• Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

• Tapi wood, paint, rattan, wire

• 66 x 18.5 in. / 168 x 47 cm

• Provenance: Scotts Valley, California Collection

"This war shield originates from the Waghi people, who called it kumb tapi — or 'wall shield.' Like many tapi shields, this example is notably old, with decades of use before being retrofitted with Western paint and metal wire. This adaptation reflects the incorporation of newly available materials into traditional warfare practices during the second half of the twentieth century.

The traditional clan design radiates from a central point, incorporating stylized local fauna — butterfly wings paired with a bird's feet motif, rendered as vertical sawtooth bands. The shield's design served as a means of individual identification among warriors, each unique interpretation of the clan’s pattern distinguishing one fighter from another.

Shipping quoted separately.

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