ASMAT, NEW GUINEA

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The Asmat of New Guinea are known for their vibrant woodcarving traditions as well as their historical culture of headhunting, each of which influenced the other. Body shields (jamasj) were among the most important and iconic carvings carried by Asmat warriors in their perpetual raids upon neighboring tribes. The purpose of such raids was to claim heads – potent sources of power, prestige, and magic – and to avenge deceased relatives who had fallen in past battles. Jamasj directly embodied the spirit of one of the warrior’s fallen relatives, and the spirit accompanied the fighter in combat. Before a raid, the shields were carved and presented to the battle group at a special feast, where the shields were faced east (the direction of the Asmat afterlife) to welcome in the spirits.

Asmat shields were often elaborately carved with repeating motifs and extensive relief work, and vibrantly colored. They employ abstract iconography relating to ancestral and martial symbolism, sometimes involving human features and representations. This example shows an organic system of serpentine bands and grasping hook forms, pigmented in the striking white and rust-red ochre scheme that is common for jamasj. A border of more finely detailed motifs lines the vertical edges. The pair of river-like bands at the top of the shield, the motion of which mirrors each other, may depict an abstract face. The rear of the shield still retains its original paint.