Bagobo Shield

[Battara]

Greetings folks!

I got this last year and finished restoring it last month. I replaced some of the missing mother-of-pearl inlay, a piece of the tip on the top of one side, and the missing top panel (which I tried to match in patina color as best as possible).

In the middle of the central boss projection is a little mirror and the whole "disc" is surrounded by pig hair.

Note: many of what we see have missing tops because they were bound in a mortise and tenon construction kept in place by rattan bindings.

Also I replaced the missing and broken rattan bindings.

On the back there is only carving and paint (no MOP). However the handle is thick and bookended with the carved heads of carabao (water buffalos) with white metal eyes.

From top to bottom the shield is 3.13 feet tall and all carved of one piece (except the very top).

I hope my pictures are better in this post than previous ones (same camera, different working of my iPhoto program).

Enjoy