KANTA SHIELD
SULAWESI
Estimate: £400 - £600
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
wood, nasa shell, bone and goat hair, of long and narrow construction, with alternating horizontal bands of inlaid shell set out in triangular patterns with panels of goat hair
Dimensions
110.5cm tall
Provenance
Private collection, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the below
Galerie Renaud Vanuxem, Paris
Footnote
The present piece is a well preserved example of a kanta shield. The defensive weapon is characterised by its tall, narrow form with a slightly flaring waist, and is typically covered with goat hair. The custom of incorporating hair into the shield’s decoration shares similarities with the Dayak shields of nearby Borneo, which often feature human hair. While the Dayak shields traditionally used hair from fallen enemies, it is possible that, historically, kanta shields may have also displayed human hair, reflecting the shared cultural practices of the region.