Vintage Maasai Shields ?

drac2k · 26th August 2023, 06:09 PM

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?

Araña_del_Sol · 27th August 2023, 12:41 AM

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

Tim Simmons · 27th August 2023, 07:56 AM

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.

drac2k · 27th August 2023, 03:56 PM

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.

Kmaddock · 29th August 2023, 09:38 AM

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

Peter B. · 29th August 2023, 10:10 AM

In this thread are also some pictures of Maasai shields in different sizes:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27227

drac2k · 29th August 2023, 05:19 PM

Great information guys; I did indeed see shields of all sizes and also unadorned, unpainted ones.

Sajen · 29th August 2023, 05:40 PM

Here you can see a lot more: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...elds&ba-page=4

drac2k · 30th August 2023, 05:38 AM

Great site, thanks Sajen.

26th August 2023, 06:09 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Vintage Maasai Shields ? 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? Attached Images

29th August 2023, 10:10 AM	#6
Peter B. Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: Germany Posts: 43	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 10:23 AM. Reason: shortened link

27th August 2023, 12:41 AM	#2
Araña_del_Sol Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 47	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

27th August 2023, 07:56 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	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.

27th August 2023, 03:56 PM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	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.

29th August 2023, 09:38 AM	#5
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	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

29th August 2023, 05:19 PM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Great information guys; I did indeed see shields of all sizes and also unadorned, unpainted ones.

29th August 2023, 05:40 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,787	Here you can see a lot more: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...elds&ba-page=4

30th August 2023, 05:38 AM	#9
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	Great site, thanks Sajen.