Antique Papua New Guinea Mummified Turtle Shell, Native Ceremonial Armour Shield

Please understand that this item is authorised to sell as it is a artefact made 1.5 centuries ago by the native people of Papua New Guinea. I will never support the sale of any animal that has been mistreated, harmed or killed especially for the benefit of distasteful people who care more for status & bank accounts than the welfare of these beautiful animals.

This Item was brought back from PNG after World War Two given to a soldier as a gift from a local after helping to restore living conditions to the many Oceanic and Pacific Islands villages. I thank you for your time & understanding. Feel free to contact me anytime, respectfully Rhonda. A very rare Papua New Guinea tribesman ceremonial shield. This unique & intricately painted piece was made with a mummified salt water sea turtle shell that many Oceanic & Pacific Islanders caught to eat which was part of there staple diet for thousands of years never wasting a skerrick. Centuries ago one of the uses of the uneatable shell was to transform its solid strength into armour like defence to deflect enemy clans spear attacks. The use of earth coloured clay to paint unique features like the designs on this piece were highly sort by many countries & there sailors.

The tribal members made this by using soft clay & mixing in the white of a seagull egg. The built up face was made similarly made to represent ancestral family members. The decorative use of the seashells called conch gave individuality to the tribesman, this was mainly due to most clans living along the Sepik River where they were bountiful in size & tone.

Once adding his own platted or rolled hair to make them lifelike, they were given strength by colouring it with clay. Finally the shield would be left beside an open fire turning it regularly to cure the clay.

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