This is an old and classic fighting shield from the Mountain-Ok people near Telefomin station in the West Sepik Province. It was collected by a New Zealand geologist working for the nearby mine in the 1960s. The piece is deeply carved, has the two cane straps on the reverse and nice remains of traditional pigments. There is the vertical crack coming down from the top but it is old and the piece is strong and stable. The shield dates to the 1930/40s, is 63" in height. sold