An Awyu shield, Digul River, West New Guinea, Indonesia

An Awyu shield, Digul River, West New Guinea, Indonesia.
Height: 137 cm (54 in.).
Provenance :
Edith Hafter Collection (1911-2001), Solothurn, acquired before 1970.
Passed on by descent.

Awyu shields come from the indigenous peoples of the Digul River region of West New Guinea, now part of Indonesia. These shields are traditionally used by the Awyu people, an ethnic group known for its warrior culture and rituals. These objects have symbolic and spiritual significance in addition to their protective function during conflicts.