A large carved "Vala Saavi" splash board or Canoe shield adorned with cowrie bird feathers and white mineral pigments.  ca. early to mid-20th century.

 A canoe prow ornament shield, hand-carved from wood and painted with natural ochre pigments, featuring a boldly rendered ancestor mask at the front. Behind the mask large panels formed from fibrous palm spathe, all lashed to a wood and bamboo framework. Such ornaments were mounted on the prows of war canoes, serving both as protective spirit guardians and as vivid visual emblems of clan identity as vessels traveled the waterways of the Sepik region. I have read that these were used exclusively for head hunting raids and war among the clans.

This example retains much of its original pigment and displays wonderful age and use, embodying the artistry and spiritual traditions of Papua New Guinea.

 Size: 51" wide x 29" tall.  

Acquired in the New Guinea prior to 1980.

 Sepik River, Papua New Guinea.

** Local Pick up Only, this is too large to ship.  located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania 18951, USA.