African (Nubian ?) shield

Gavin Nugent · 13th August 2018, 01:21 AM

A great discussion and awesome images.

Below are a pair of spears I have here. I've also two of the shields in the initial post, one is mounted in my home, the other in storage, neither have the croc skin centre "tit" as my son calls it, both are thick, hard and weighty hide, pressed to shape and with thickened folded edges.

Gavin

colin henshaw · 13th August 2018, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

A great discussion and awesome images.

Below are a pair of spears I have here. I've also two of the shields in the initial post, one is mounted in my home, the other in storage, neither have the croc skin centre "tit" as my son calls it, both are thick, hard and weighty hide, pressed to shape and with thickened folded edges.

Gavin

Thanks Gavin. Fine spears ... the shafts are of a similar material (Nile reed ?) to the stick on my shield.

If possible, please post images of your two shields as they would be interesting comparisons.

Regards.

Gavin Nugent · 1st November 2018, 04:17 AM

Better late than never... I'll dig the other out in the new year...

colin henshaw · 1st November 2018, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

Better late than never... I'll dig the other out in the new year...

Fine shield, thanks for posting.

Edster · 3rd November 2018, 05:48 PM

Colin,

I think this is a period (1819-22 illustration of your shield. Its from Frederic Cauilliaud's "Voyage to Meroe...", Vol. 2, p.64. The text, in French, likely provides location details.

Best,
Ed

colin henshaw · 4th November 2018, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edster

Colin,

I think this is a period (1819-22 illustration of your shield. Its from Frederic Cauilliaud's "Voyage to Meroe...", Vol. 2, p.64. The text, in French, likely provides location details.

Best,
Ed

Very interesting Ed, thanks for posting. This form of shield must have been unchanged for some time. The one you have shown seems to have some sort of decoration to the leather ?

Regards, Colin

Edster · 4th November 2018, 01:26 PM

Yes. Sources say that the shields were made by "bedouins" and oblong, 3 to 4 feet long. The makers must have had an artistic taste either period, group or individual like the croc.skin boss on yours. Perhaps to the market. Skin types varied based on availability of animals, hippo, rhino, giraffe, antelope whether in the north or south. The other preferred type was round like the Beja type.

Regards,
Ed

13th August 2018, 01:21 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A great discussion and awesome images. Below are a pair of spears I have here. I've also two of the shields in the initial post, one is mounted in my home, the other in storage, neither have the croc skin centre "tit" as my son calls it, both are thick, hard and weighty hide, pressed to shape and with thickened folded edges. Gavin Attached Images

1st November 2018, 04:17 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Sudan Better late than never... I'll dig the other out in the new year... Attached Images

3rd November 2018, 05:48 PM	#5
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 411	Colin, I think this is a period (1819-22 illustration of your shield. Its from Frederic Cauilliaud's "Voyage to Meroe...", Vol. 2, p.64. The text, in French, likely provides location details. Best, Ed Attached Images

4th November 2018, 01:26 PM	#7
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 411	Yes. Sources say that the shields were made by "bedouins" and oblong, 3 to 4 feet long. The makers must have had an artistic taste either period, group or individual like the croc.skin boss on yours. Perhaps to the market. Skin types varied based on availability of animals, hippo, rhino, giraffe, antelope whether in the north or south. The other preferred type was round like the Beja type. Regards, Ed