A fine war shield made of wood and cane slats. While it generally appears that this is a rarer type of shield then the more common woven cane examples it is simply that these were a more rugged and less esthetical type and so fewer were collected. There is a double X motif incorporated into the attachments of the slats at the top. The rear shows the two cane supports for the fiber hand grip (now missing). The edges of the slats along the vertical sides of the shield are further sealed with parinarium paste.

Solomon Islands (possibly Florida Island), Melanesia. Wood, cane, fiber and parinarium nut paste. 83,5 x 25,5 x 2 cm. 19th/20th century.

Ref. :
• SHIELDS OF OCEANIA: ed.: Beran, Harry & Craig, Barry. Crawford House Press & Oceanic Art Society, Australia, 2005.

• Starzecka, Dorota C.: THE SOLOMON ISLANDERS. British Museum Publications LTD, 1971, fig. 5, page 15