STRANGE BORNEO SHIELD

[Royston]

The recent thread on Borneo shilds prompted me to dig this one out and photograph it.

Carved from one piece of wood it is 34cm wide and 144cm long.
As you can see it is 20 mm thick and even more at the ends.
it weighs a massive 5.7 kg.

Is it genuine or some very elaborate tourist piece?

Perhaps the Borneo answer to stopping bullets :D

I think probably tourist but not really sure as I have never seen another.

Anyone got an idea ?

Roy

[kino]

Royston,
Just like Vandoo you have at least one of everything.
Both of you have collections to be envied. :)

[VANDOO]

ALL SHIELDS AND WEAPONS THAT ARE MADE LONG AFTER THEIR EVERYDAY USE IN THE SOCIETY BECOME ART. THEY OFTEN ARE USED IN TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES SUCH AS WEDDINGS, PROCESSIONS AND OF COURSE SHOWS FOR TOURISTS. WHAT YOU HAVE IS A VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF ETHINOGRAPHIC ART THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE FORM OF A SHIELD (IT WILL NEVER BE USED IN BATTLE AND IF EVER USED AT ALL IT WOULD BE IN A DANCE ,RITUAL OR SHOW).

WE OFTEN SAY TOURIST ITEM WHICH IS MISLEADING THESE THINGS ARE OFTEN MADE BY THE BEST INDIGINOUS CRAFTSMEN OF THE VILLAGES AND OF COURSE THEY LIKE TO MAKE WHAT SELLS. THEY ARE SOLD AS ART SO INSTEAD OF REFERING TO THE BUYERS AS TOURISTS LETS BE KIND AND CALL THEM ART CONNISOURS. ;)
ITEMS WITH THIS DEGREE OF WORKMANSHIP ARE WORTHY TO BE CALLED ART RATHER THAN TOURIST JUNK. THE TOURIST JUNK IS USUALLY MADE IN SOME OTHER COUNTRY BY PEOPLE WITH NO TRIBAL CONNECTIONS TO THE ARTEFACTS. THE QUALITY IS USUALLY VERY INFERRIOR AND OFTEN INNACURATE AND MAY BE CAST PLASTIC OR SOME OTHER NON TRADITIONAL MATERIAL.
YOUR SHIELD IS MADE OF WOOD, FROM BORNEO AND USES TRADITIONAL DESIGNS SO CERTIANLY QUALIFYS IT AS ETHINOGRAPHIC ART ,AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS RECENT THE WORKMANSHIP IS VERY GOOD. IT IS LIKELY TO BE HAND CARVED WHICH MAKES IT AN ORIGINAL ONE OF A KIND WORK OF ART. IF A DUPLICATING MACHINE HAS BEEN USED WITH THE ORIGINAL FOR A PATTERN AND MANY COPYS WERE MADE THEN IT IS MORE LIKE A PRINT OF A WORK OF ART. MOST LIKELY IT IS HAND CARVED AS LABOR IS CHEAPER THAN DUPLICATING MACHINES IN BORNEO. :)

THATS THE WAY I SEE IT AND IM STICKING TO IT. :p

[asomotif]

Very kind words from Vandoo :)

In short :elaborate tourist piece :p

But indeed a very nice carved example.11 year sago in malaysia I saw a lot of hardwood relief carved shields, but not this quality smoothly carved.
As such, you can see it as a work of art.

[Royston]

Kino
Asomotif
Vandoo

Thanks for the comments. Looks as though we all agree on it.

Roy