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Collections record

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shield

On display
human history
shield,

Images and documents

Images

  • shield,
  • shield part

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pacific Masterpieces

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1928.253, 2813
  • Public Access Text

    Oval wicker work shields of this type are reported to have been made mostly inland on Guadalcanal and traded from there to other parts of the Solomon Islands. They were used for protection from arrows and spears in warfare. In the mid-nineteenth century, a very few rare examples were decorated like this one with fine plaiting and attached shell pieces to produce a ceremonial dance shield which was not used in warfare. Only three other such ceremonial shields have survived.

    They are now in museums in London, Scotland, and Honolulu. Mr Harry Kinder presented this shield to Auckland Museum in 1928 as part of the collection assembled by his father the Rev. John A. Kinder who had probably collected it during his travels in the Solomon Islands.

  • Cultural Origin

    Solomon Islander

  • Primary Maker

     unknown

  • Place
    Solomon Islands
  • Date
    Unknown
  • Media

    wicker

    shell

    tooth/bone

  • Measurement Reading

    650mm

    175mm (width at centre)

  • Classification

    Shield

    Armament T&E, Accessory

    Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

  • Last Update
    24 Mar 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

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