Massai shield

[stekemest]

Hi,

Can you tell me how old this massai shield is and if it is authentic or just made for the tourist trade? It doesn't look like the modern tourist crap to me, but I'm not sure.

That's not my shield yet, but I could buy it (pictures by seller).

Thank you very much in advance.

Peter

[asomotif]

How big is this shield ?

Would you dare to take on a lion with this shield ?
If not, it probably isn't the real thing.

The leather around the edge is to big/rough for starters.

[stekemest]

I don't know as I haven't held it in hand, but it seems to me rather small. I wouldn't take on a lion with it

What do you mean by "starters"? My English is not the best.

Thank you,
Peter

[kronckew]

he is using it in the sense of 'to start', as in it is the first discrepancy he notices. it struck me as a bit plain, the masai are usually very colorful. the size of the one you are considering would be useful. see below for comparative sizes. i've seen childrens ones and ones 'for those who travel' of a foot to 18" or so (30-50 cm.)

here's some masai participants from the london marathon:


another masai in full warrior dress


google 'masai sheild' and go to images for a LOT of examples, new and old.
part of one page:

[stekemest]

Hi kronckew,

Thanks for the explanation. I already searched google, but I still can't say whether it is tourist stuff or authentic. The tourist shields I know look brighter and "cleaner", this one looks rather "used" to me.

I guess it has a length of ~50 cms, but I really can't say for sure.

Peter

[kronckew]

of course the 'cleaner' ones like the runners are carrying are so bright because they repainted them as needed. the second one with the full head fur and the seme thru the belt had a 'well used' look, but was still showing remnants of the original colors. i remember seeing an old restored film of a masai lion hunt, the shields were big enough for the warrior to hide under if knocked over by a lion. see 2nd photo below.

this is what i meant by the childrens/tourist ones:


this is an old photo, i assume late 19th early 20thc.


p.s. - i updated the storage on the middle picture of the guy in the 'head fur' in my earlier post as it was not showing this morning...

a common theme i'm noting here is the 'real' ones, old and new have a number of points where the facing hide is tied to the backing/grip stick, which is enhanced on some of them by the painting, some dotted there or a zig-zag pattern. the touristy ones are only so tied just above and below the grip. the ones in the last black & white photo remind me of the roman auxilliary & cavalry shields of similar oval design and size.


my only shield is not african tho.