2 fine Mendi shields to view.

Sajen · 24th June 2015, 11:11 AM

Hello Tim,

sorry, but they look rather recent to my eyes.

Regards,
Detlef

Tim Simmons · 24th June 2015, 11:54 AM

Well I am not going to struggle to take better pictures. Obviously I can see them in the flesh so to speak but here is one with the same decoration except painted.

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/co...on/work/80242/

Tim Simmons · 24th June 2015, 04:27 PM

A more moody picture. You can just discern a black tint in places on the wood, what is left of a black paint. Most observable in the bottom left arc. I have found this interesting PHD thesis on Mendi ans Sluka colour. Scroll down to page 53 and you will find lots of useful shield information which one would not find in the collecting world. Shields were repainted when the colour wore off or at an owners whim. I think in this picture you get some idea of use wear. I do not have the camara and lighting skills to show things at there best. What I thought was white clay inlay is after x10 inspection, places where the red paint is flaked off showing the rougher untouch wood.

http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3562/1/Rowe...ESIS.pdf?DDD5+

VANDOO · 24th June 2015, 06:19 PM

A FINE SPECIMIN OF PUPPY DOG.

ONE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT SOME AREAS OF THE WORLD SUCH AS NEW GUINEA AND SOUTH AMERICA IS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLES HAVE BEEN FOUND RECENTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH ASIAN AND EUROPEAN HISTORY. SO EVEN IF THESE WERE MADE FAIRLY RECENTLY. SAY IN OUR LIFETIME IT CAN STILL HAVE SEEN ETHINOGRAPHIC USE AND BE A OLDER ARTEFACT OR EVEN PRE-CONTACT FROM CERTIAN GROUPS. IF OLD TOOLS WERE USED ,NOT POWER TOOLS AND THEY ARE WELL MADE AND IN THE TRADITIONAL FORM THEY ARE GOOD REPRESENTIVE SHIELDS FROM THE TRIBE REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL AGE. THE CLOSER TO FIRST CONTACT WITH GOOD PROVENANCE AS WELL AS WORKMANSHIP IS THE BEST CASE, BUT IS SELDOM THE CASE IN COLLECTING.

Rick · 24th June 2015, 06:49 PM

Here's a bit on them : http://www.academia.edu/1578700/Mend...pua_New_Guinea

Tim Simmons · 25th June 2015, 08:10 AM

Black paint, why there is only remnants I do not know but it was painted. In the thesis link I forgot to mention chapter 5 page 53.

Tim Simmons · 25th June 2015, 05:18 PM

Reading the thesis more carefully may I suggest that between conflicts shields might be cleaned or perhaps neutralised and stored- the paint no longer active. When conflict seems to be about, perhaps there is ceremony in repainting. Repeated cleaning and repainting could lead to a kind of polish to the front of the shield surface. So perhaps contrary to the suggestion that it is recent, it could well be an old example, bearing in mind that highland exploration did not occur until the 1930s.

24th June 2015, 04:27 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	A more moody picture. You can just discern a black tint in places on the wood, what is left of a black paint. Most observable in the bottom left arc. I have found this interesting PHD thesis on Mendi ans Sluka colour. Scroll down to page 53 and you will find lots of useful shield information which one would not find in the collecting world. Shields were repainted when the colour wore off or at an owners whim. I think in this picture you get some idea of use wear. I do not have the camara and lighting skills to show things at there best. What I thought was white clay inlay is after x10 inspection, places where the red paint is flaked off showing the rougher untouch wood. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3562/1/Rowe...ESIS.pdf?DDD5+ Attached Images

25th June 2015, 08:10 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Black paint, why there is only remnants I do not know but it was painted. In the thesis link I forgot to mention chapter 5 page 53. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 25th June 2015 at 09:28 AM.

24th June 2015, 11:11 AM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hello Tim, sorry, but they look rather recent to my eyes. Regards, Detlef

24th June 2015, 11:54 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Well I am not going to struggle to take better pictures. Obviously I can see them in the flesh so to speak but here is one with the same decoration except painted. http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/co...on/work/80242/

24th June 2015, 06:19 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A FINE SPECIMIN OF PUPPY DOG. ONE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT SOME AREAS OF THE WORLD SUCH AS NEW GUINEA AND SOUTH AMERICA IS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLES HAVE BEEN FOUND RECENTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH ASIAN AND EUROPEAN HISTORY. SO EVEN IF THESE WERE MADE FAIRLY RECENTLY. SAY IN OUR LIFETIME IT CAN STILL HAVE SEEN ETHINOGRAPHIC USE AND BE A OLDER ARTEFACT OR EVEN PRE-CONTACT FROM CERTIAN GROUPS. IF OLD TOOLS WERE USED ,NOT POWER TOOLS AND THEY ARE WELL MADE AND IN THE TRADITIONAL FORM THEY ARE GOOD REPRESENTIVE SHIELDS FROM THE TRIBE REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL AGE. THE CLOSER TO FIRST CONTACT WITH GOOD PROVENANCE AS WELL AS WORKMANSHIP IS THE BEST CASE, BUT IS SELDOM THE CASE IN COLLECTING.

24th June 2015, 06:49 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Here's a bit on them : http://www.academia.edu/1578700/Mend...pua_New_Guinea

25th June 2015, 05:18 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Reading the thesis more carefully may I suggest that between conflicts shields might be cleaned or perhaps neutralised and stored- the paint no longer active. When conflict seems to be about, perhaps there is ceremony in repainting. Repeated cleaning and repainting could lead to a kind of polish to the front of the shield surface. So perhaps contrary to the suggestion that it is recent, it could well be an old example, bearing in mind that highland exploration did not occur until the 1930s.