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THBTrobriand 19th C. Painted Wood Warrior Vayola Shield
Lot 23
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,500 - $5,500
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, Kilivila-speaking peoples (Massim cultural sphere), late 19th to early 20th century CE. An ovoid and slightly convex wooden shield, locally referred to as a vayola, painted in red and black against a white ground. The surface is painted with complex abstract motifs, including twin star-like medallions and a large ovular panel at the base enclosing paired bird-like figures, spirals, and arched bands. Repeating dash-like or "E" shaped marks fill the surrounding field, creating dense visual texture. The original handles consisting of two horizontal grips made from a thick piece of vegetal cane or vine, are still attached on the reverse, with a modern rope added for suspension. Vayola shields were designed to be eye-catching, deliberately drawing the enemy's attention in battle, these shields signaled the presence of the strongest and most courageous warriors on the battlefield. Yet this visibility came at a cost: killing the bearer of such a shield was itself considered a heroic act, further elevating the victor's status. Size: 31" L x 12.5" W (78.7 cm x 31.8 cm)
Multiple interpretations of the painted design have been proposed, including totemic and mythological symbols (such as birds, stars, and fish), anatomical imagery of human copulation, and mythic references to the gatekeeper Topileta and the deity Tuma of the underworld - interwoven ideas reflecting beliefs in reincarnation, clan identity, and the magical complexity of design.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; acquired from Taylor A. Dale (TAD) Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Brussels collection; ex-collection of Patricia Withofs, London.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#195943148812Condition
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