Shield (Grere'o)

About this Brooklyn Icon

The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.

The impressive workmanship on this grere’o, or decorated shield, is some of the highest quality known today. It was made in the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, in the first half of the 19th century. Its oblong shape and woven construction echo that of a lave (war shield), but the elaborate nautilus shell decoration is rare. The embellished surface is fragile but still in good condition, which means this shield was probably not destined for combat but instead signaled status for its owner—someone of high rank in the community. The dramatic geometric pattern is made up of inlaid squares of nautilus shell, creating white lines against the contrasting red and black background made of Parinarium nut paste and pigment, which was applied over a wickerwork armature. The details of these shields are unique, but the designs tend to follow the same basic program: an elongated, abstracted human figure in the center, with what look like two bows, one on either side, and a labyrinth of surrounding lines. There may also be—as here—additional faces below the central figure.

About two dozen grere’o are known today, and this one has one of the most complete provenance records: it was initially collected by Surgeon Captain James Booth of the British Royal Navy before 1852.