Dazzling the enemy: shields from the Pacific

Bowman’s shield, late 1800s, Maiva area, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea
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Shield made of wood from Papua New Guinea

This photograph shows three men holding shields, the men on the far left and right are holding it as it would have been worn in action. Photographed by Rev. William G Lawes in 1881.
Registration number: BM Oc, B26.2

Photograph of three men holding shields

Painted metal shield by Kaipel Ka, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, Wahgi people, AD 1980s
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Painted metal shield from Papua New Guinea

Painted wooden shield, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, Wahgi people, 1980s AD
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Painted wooden shield from Papua New Guinea

War shield, mid-1900s, Urapmin people, Highlands, West Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
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Wooden shield decorated with a red, white and black pattern

Telefomin man holding a shield (BM number Oc.1964.03.81). Photograph Bryan A.L. Cranstone, British Museum Expedition to Papua New Guinea, December 1963 to May 1964.
Registration number: OcF.T.5538

Photograph of a shield being held by a Telefomin man

Wooden war shield, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, Sulka people, possibly early 20th century AD
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Wooden war shield from Papua New Guinea

War shield with green and pink parrot feathers, late 1800s, Central Province, Papua New Guinea
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Shield made of wood and decorated with green and pink feathers

Rabu Banaky, son of Koapena, a powerful Aroma chief - New Guinea. This studio portrait, by G.H. Woodelton taken in the mid 19th century, shows a Central Province man dressed in war regalia.

Photograph of a young Aroma man holding a shield

Child’s shield, late 1800s, Orokaiva people, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
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Child's shield made of wood

War shield, late 1800s, Karkar Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
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Rectangular wooden shield

Detail of a sling stone in a war shield, late 1800s, Karkar Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

Detail of a sling stone in a wooden shield

War shield, late 1800s, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
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Painted shield made of wood, ochre and cane

War shield, early 1900s, South Asmat, West Papua
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Shield made of wood from Papua New Guinea

Lady Broughton, adventurer and photographer, captured the moment in which a warrior of the Safan area, presented a shield (BM number 1936.720.250, see previous image) to the collector, Lord Moyne, in 1935.

Photograph of men in Papua New Guinea holding a shield made of wood

Shell-inlaid shield, Central Solomon Islands, around AD 1860
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Shell-inlaid shield

Ceremonial shield, Gela Island, Solomon Islands, possibly early 19th century AD
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Ceremonial shield from the Solomon Islands