Ethiopian Shield #3
 

The third shield, a more common variety. Opinions?

I know nothing of these shields Bill , they looik good though ;) But pure intrest & curiosity means I must ask what thickness are they? Great finds I am sure...

Spiral

I believe thats Galla, from Ethiopia...got one identical to it. Don't think I have the notes with me, but think it was Lake Tana region.

NICE SHIELDS :cool:
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE ARE USUALLY MADE FROM HIPPO OR BUFFALOW HIDE IN THE SOUTHERN, CENTRAL REGION OF ETHIOPIA. I DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE LARGE BUMP DESIGNS BUT THEY ARE TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE OF SHIELD. THE ONE I HAVE AS WELL AS OTHERS I HAVE SEEN ARE LARGE, THICK AND HEAVY AND WOULD OFFER GOOD PROTECTION FROM EDGED WEAPONS. SOME HAVE A FLAT EDGE AND OTHERS HAVE A ROLLED EDGE TO BETTER RESIST A CUT TO THE SHIELD EDGE. THE EXAMPLE I HAVE WAS COLLECTED IN ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA. I HAD NOT SEEN THE METAL DESIGNS ON THE OLD EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST SO THAT MAY BE A MORE RECENT ARTISTIC INNOVATION, BUT IT DOES LOOK GOOD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PAGES 102 THRU 105 IN "SHIELDS Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania" by Prestel. from the collections of the Barbier- Mueller Museum. it is a good book on shields.

Splendid.

Pretty common shield. :cool:

But pretty attractive too :D :D

Hello,

This is Wolaytta People shield from Ethiopia. Cca 15 years ago it was easily obtainable in Addis Ababa "antique" shops, now it is becoming more rare and also export of this items from Ethiopia is strictly prohibited. These shields use to be big and heavy (made of thick and very "dense" skin (but not elephant)). There are cca 4 types of this Wolaytta shields - with/without anteflexed rims and with smooth surface or decorated with small engravings arround all projections. The shield was carried so, that the holder was slipped on forearm and fingers retained leather springle fastened to the rim.

Regards,
Martin

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

But could you take a look at the other two other less common shields I posted? I ma curious about these two examples, not having seen shields like these before.


I'll bump them up.

More common, but a good one.
Luc

A few documentation.
Luc

A real shield - usually they have a turned-up rim, looking at it carefully perhaps it has been trimmed down around the circumference for some reason. (But I have seen others that look similar).

Regards