A Nias Peoples, Indonesian Carved Wood Shield (1800 to 1900 Nias Peoples , Indonesia)

Wood

32.00cm wide    124.50cm high    (12.60 inches wide  49.02 inches high)

Nias is the biggest of 131 smaller islands that lie off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Bearing a resemblance to the Dayak shields of Borneo these war shields are used by the Nias in the south of the Island. These shields are also used by young warriors in a war dance and a manhood ritual that involves acrobatically leaping over the edge of two metre stone towers in order to prove their readiness to take a wife.

A Nias Peoples, Indonesian Carved Wood Shield
Old smooth patina with traces of reddish pigment to the shaft
19th Century

Size: 124.5 cm high, 32 cm wide – 49 ins high, 12½ ins wide

132 cm high – 52 ins high ( including stand )