Mongo shield? how can I preserve it?

Luc LEFEBVRE · 23rd March 2006, 12:20 AM

No guide for the price of African weapons.Search on the web, contact the gallery and collectors to have an idea, take a look at the Sotheby's catalogues...
For exemple a simple Mongo, not beautiful :500€
http://www.hamillgallery.com/SHIELDS...duShields.html

and try to ask the price here:
http://www.joelcooner.com/African/Af...f-shields.html

I try to get this one, but it ends at night...and Kevin Conru get it
http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...tem=7383014514

Kevin Conru:
http://www.tribalmania.com/INTERVIEWCONRU.htm

Luc

katana · 23rd March 2006, 10:23 AM

Thanks Luc,
very interesting

sabertasche · 24th March 2006, 05:44 AM

Just a thought re wicker for shields. I'm reading a book called "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield (ISBN 0-385-49251-0). It is a novel of the battle of Thermoylae, Greeks against the Persians under Xerxes - 480 BC. In describing the battle tactics of the Spartans, the author points out that wicker was used to entrap blades and points. Perhaps this is one reason these shields were made of wicker (plus there was lots of reeds around).

The book is an excellant read. IMHO it would make a fantastic movie.

Greg

VANDOO · 24th March 2006, 06:25 AM

I AM NOT A EXPERT ON HOW TO CARE FOR BASKETS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE THE WAY TO CARE FOR AND PRESERVE THIS KIND OF SHIELD. I HAVE A OLD HANDMADE HAT FROM HAWAII THAT I LIGHTLY COAT WITH MINERAL OIL ON A RAG FROM TIME TO TIME. IT KEEPS THE WOVEN MATERIAL FROM DRYING OUT AND BECOMING BRITTLE AND RESTORES THE COLOR OF THE MATERIALS USED. A HAT CAN BE WORN FOR A LIFETIME BARRING ACCIDENTS IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IF YOU DO THIS IT WILL DARKEN THE COLOR AND REMOVE DIRT SO IF YOU LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW YOU MAY NOT WANT TO USE THE MINERAL OIL. IT IS BEST TO USE THE OIL SPAREINGLY AND NOT TO SOAK THE OBJECT, IN HARD TO GET SPOTS IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO USE A BRUSH AND THEN TO BLOT THE EXCESS OFF WITH A CLOTH. DOING THIS SEVERAL TIMES LEAVING ONLY A LIGHT COAT IS THE BEST WAY, THE OIL WILL PENETRATE BEST IF IT IS IN A WARM OR HOT AREA BUT IT IS BEST NOT TO PUT IT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AS THAT WILL BLEACH IT OUT. NICE LOOKING SHIELD GOOD LUCK

23rd March 2006, 12:20 AM	#1
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	No guide for the price of African weapons.Search on the web, contact the gallery and collectors to have an idea, take a look at the Sotheby's catalogues... For exemple a simple Mongo, not beautiful :500€ http://www.hamillgallery.com/SHIELDS...duShields.html and try to ask the price here: http://www.joelcooner.com/African/Af...f-shields.html I try to get this one, but it ends at night...and Kevin Conru get it http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...tem=7383014514 Kevin Conru: http://www.tribalmania.com/INTERVIEWCONRU.htm Luc

23rd March 2006, 10:23 AM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks Luc, very interesting

24th March 2006, 05:44 AM	#3
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Just a thought re wicker for shields. I'm reading a book called "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield (ISBN 0-385-49251-0). It is a novel of the battle of Thermoylae, Greeks against the Persians under Xerxes - 480 BC. In describing the battle tactics of the Spartans, the author points out that wicker was used to entrap blades and points. Perhaps this is one reason these shields were made of wicker (plus there was lots of reeds around). The book is an excellant read. IMHO it would make a fantastic movie. Greg

24th March 2006, 06:25 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I AM NOT A EXPERT ON HOW TO CARE FOR BASKETS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE THE WAY TO CARE FOR AND PRESERVE THIS KIND OF SHIELD. I HAVE A OLD HANDMADE HAT FROM HAWAII THAT I LIGHTLY COAT WITH MINERAL OIL ON A RAG FROM TIME TO TIME. IT KEEPS THE WOVEN MATERIAL FROM DRYING OUT AND BECOMING BRITTLE AND RESTORES THE COLOR OF THE MATERIALS USED. A HAT CAN BE WORN FOR A LIFETIME BARRING ACCIDENTS IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IF YOU DO THIS IT WILL DARKEN THE COLOR AND REMOVE DIRT SO IF YOU LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW YOU MAY NOT WANT TO USE THE MINERAL OIL. IT IS BEST TO USE THE OIL SPAREINGLY AND NOT TO SOAK THE OBJECT, IN HARD TO GET SPOTS IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO USE A BRUSH AND THEN TO BLOT THE EXCESS OFF WITH A CLOTH. DOING THIS SEVERAL TIMES LEAVING ONLY A LIGHT COAT IS THE BEST WAY, THE OIL WILL PENETRATE BEST IF IT IS IN A WARM OR HOT AREA BUT IT IS BEST NOT TO PUT IT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AS THAT WILL BLEACH IT OUT. NICE LOOKING SHIELD GOOD LUCK