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Underarm shield, Elayborr, 20th century
Wood, pigment, bark sling
68.6 cm (27 in.)

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This type of shield, called elayborr, was "used in surprise raids or in skirmishes." It is one of three types known from the Mendi region (Barbier, 2000: 112). Apart from being smaller and lighter, it differs from the oval-shaped shoulder shield, worrumbi (see next object), in that it has a U-shaped recess at its top. Its pair of upper projections helped to protect the head of the warrior while the recess made it possible to position the shield under the armpit when used in action, thus enabling the shield carrier to put his arm through "leaving both hands free to draw a bow" (cf. Sillitoe, 1988: 166b; see also Ryan, 1958: 245). This would confirm a verbal statement by Ongka and Strathern (see Smidt, 1975: 41) suggesting that in warfare, spear fighters carrying shileds such as that seen in pl. 593 were in the front line, while the bowmen, carrying shields such as this one, would be in the back line. Such statements, however, appear to be contadicted by at least some of the photographic evidence; see Simpson, 1954; Boyland and North, 1977: 78; Barbier, 2000: 212. As Barbier has noted, there is a similarity in concept between the Mendi underarm shield and its counterpart from the Gulf of Papua that also happens to have the U-shaped recess; however, the position of the piercings for the attachment of the carrying sling differs (ibid, cat. nos. 86-88). The design on this shield is dominated by an anthropomorphic motif not unlike those on some Wola shoulder shields (see Sillitoe, 1980 and 1988; Boylan and North, 1997: 79). For interpretations of the anthropomorphic motif, especially in relation to the revenge obligation, see Sillitoe, 1980: 490-97. It may also refer to the Yupin (see pl. 589 and 590). For comparable shields dominated by the geometric designs, see Boylan and North, 1997: 78; Barbier, 2000: 213; and Smidt, 1975: 41." (Catalog #592, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 191.)

Related Keywords
Elayborr shield Underarm Art Jolika speakers language Mendi people Wola Oceania Province Highlands Southern Guinea New Armor Arms sling bark pigment Wood 0420200717030030 A383361 AOA