INTERESTING PHILIPPINE SHIELD

[VANDOO]

A NICE LOOKING PHILIPPINE SHIELD CLOSED ON EBY.
# 120503422444 IT WENT FOR BIG MONEY BUT IT IS WORTH A LOOK AND COMMENTS. IS IT AUTHENTIC OR PERHAPS HAS BEEN EMBELLISHED WITH NEW DESIGNS? EITHER WAY IT LOOKS GOOD AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW ITS HISTORY AND ORIGINS.

[Sajen]

Here some of the pictures from the seller. In my humble opinion it is a Kalinga shield and very nice, I think original.

[Rick]

Very nice indeed !
Some of the damage looks recent .
A shame . :(

Still, a magnificent piece !

[Battara]

Nicer than mine and tattoo'd too. The winner paid it's worth for sure.

[asomotif]

Please note the size.
It is laying on a rather big table.

Size of the shield is 38 x 10 inch.

Nice shield indeed,

[Bill]

Very nice one.
I've got one exactly the size of the auction shield. The cut-outs are to pin limbs & the head of a victim. Several men would be in the war party & use the shields to incapacitate the target. My small one only has 3.75" on the single cut-out & 1.75" on the double. The "normal" 42"x 13" has 4.75" on the single & 3" on the double cut-out & is much thicker.
Doesn't sound like a big difference but in handling the 2 different sizes, one can clearly see the smaller one is not meant for combat. The one in the auction has exaggerated depth & too narrow of cut-out's to be practical.
My larger ones show the wear & repairs & are without any finish. The smaller is 2 tone apparently from some sort of charcoal paste contrasted in other sections by well oiled polishing. The rattan on both sizes shows age.
The US dominance curtailed the head hunting, so it seems likely the smaller ones are post head hunting & strictly ceremonial. I suppose their compact size would also make them more marketable for service men.
The smaller one looks great hanging on the wall, while the "warrior" ones are in a closet. The auction one will make a great display piece.