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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

68 - - Kliau shield - Dayak - Borneo - Indonesia Provenance: Priv…
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Estimate €500 - €700
Sale commission
Description
- Kliau shield - Dayak - Borneo - Indonesia Provenance: Private collection, Belgium - Dimensions: 124 cm Large kliau war shield carved from a single plank of light wood and decorated on both sides with black, ochre and reddish-brown polychrome motifs. The main face is dominated by a powerful stylised mask with circular eyes and symmetrical scrolls, a composition designed to impress the opponent while invoking the protection of tutelary spirits. The reverse features an equally elaborate decoration organised around anthropomorphic motifs and a preserved central gripping system. The elongated shape with ogival ends is one of the classic forms of Bornean Dayak war shields. The painted decorations, made from plant and mineral pigments, combine representations of protective spirits, stylised plant motifs and figures associated with ancestors. In addition to their defensive function, these shields helped to affirm the warrior's prestige and the complex belief system of the Dayak people. Older examples that retain their original polychrome are particularly sought-after. This one stands out for the quality of its bilateral decoration, the graphic vigour of its central mask and the remarkable conservation of its pigments.
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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