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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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I picked these up a couple of weeks ago and I'm pretty sure (but not positive), that they are vintage Maasai shields. One has traces of decorated pigment on it, and both are constructed in the Maasai fashion. I was wondering how old these shields are and if the undecorated shield could have been constructed by a neighboring tribe, other than the Maasai using similar techniques?
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 46
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Hi drac2k,
These shields could most definitely be from the Maasai people, here is a vintage photo of a warrior and a few shields from the British Museum Maasai warrior: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...ct/EA_Af-B14-2 Shield 1: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...t/E_Af1904-233 Shield 2: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec.../E_Af1944-05-5 Shield 3: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec..._Af1936-0104-4 That being said, much of the material culture commonly attributed to the Maasai is also found among several neighboring people groups in Kenya and Tanzania including the Samburu, Kikuyu, Nyamwezi, Arusha, etc. Thus, either the undecorated and/or the decorated shield could come from a neighboring ethnic group. - ADS |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,772
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They could be from many other people of the region of East Africa. The Maasai warrior of the early 20th century carried much larger shield.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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Very interesting; how large were the earlier shields? My shields seem to be consistent in size with the examples provided by Arana_del_Sol; 40"x27" & 37"x29". I should have provided the dimensions earlier.
Thanks to all for the insightful comments. |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 539
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I have in the back of my mind a memory of reading that older Massai Shields were big enough to cover an entire person when crouched down behind them.
Regardless both shields are lovely items. Well done Ken |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2021
Location: Germany
Posts: 42
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In this thread are also some pictures of Maasai shields in different sizes:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27227 Last edited by Peter B.; 29th August 2023 at 09:23 AM. Reason: shortened link |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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Great information guys; I did indeed see shields of all sizes and also unadorned, unpainted ones.
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