Shield

early to mid-20th century

Not on view

Adorned with images that were first engraved into its surface and then brightly painted, this shield from the western Kimberley Region in Australia depicts a humanlike figure representing a Wandjina above a turtle. Perhaps the most important supernatural beings in the region, Wandjinas are associated with the clouds that signal the arrival of the annual rainy season. Wandjinas can manifest themselves both in the form of humanlike beings, such as the one seen here, and as clouds, and their images often combine aspects of the two. The halolike motif that surrounds the head simultaneously represents a cloud and the figure's hair and the bodies of Wandjinas are typically painted a cloudlike white. Wandjina images appear most frequently in the region's rock art, but also occasionally on portable objects such as the present work.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Shield
Date: early to mid-20th century
Geography: Australia, Western Kimberley region, Western Australia, Worora River (?) region
Culture: Wunambal or Worora
Medium: Wood, paint
Dimensions: H. 33 x W. 5 x D. 3 in. (83.8 x 12.7 x 7.6 cm)
Classification: Wood-Implements
Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1960
Object Number: 1978.412.757
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Mask (Buk, Krar, or Kara), Turtle shell, wood, cassowary feathers, fiber, resin, shell, paint, Torres Strait Islander — Mask (Buk, Krar, or Kara)
Torres Strait Islander
mid to late 19th century

Parrying Shield, Aboriginal artist, Wood, Lower Murray River region — Parrying Shield
Aboriginal artist
19th century

Rainforest shield, Aboriginal artist, Wood, natural pigment, Northeastern Queensland — Rainforest shield
Aboriginal artist
mid–late 19th century

Riji, jakoli, or longkalongka (engraved pearl shell) with belt, Aboriginal artist, Pearl shell, human hair, ocher, Western Kimberley — Riji, jakoli, or longkalongka (engraved pearl shell) with belt
Aboriginal artist
late 19th–early 20th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.