SHIELD IDENTIFICATION

Royston · 7th June 2008, 09:20 PM

Can anyone help with identifying this shield ? I just bought it yesterday. The vendor thought it came from the Phillipines.
It measures 26 x 11.5 inches and is carved from single block of wood. All of the metal is iron except for the decoration on the front which does not respond to a magnet.
Thanks
Royston

VANDOO · 8th June 2008, 08:36 PM

CONGRADULATIONS!! A VERY NICE SHIELD SHOWING GOOD AGE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. IF THE SELLER IS CORRECT IT WOULD BE A MORO SHIELD, THE WAY THE GRIP IS MADE ON THE BACK ALSO REMINDS ME OF THE MORO STYLE. THE IRON DECORATION ON THE FRONT WOULD ALSO REINFORCE THE SHIELD AND HELP KEEP IT FROM SPLITTING WHEN STRUCK ON THE EDGES.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT IT IS JUST MY GUESS AS I HAVE NOT SEEN A MORO SHIELD LIKE IT AS THE FEW I HAVE SEEN WERE ROUND. I THINK A SIMULAR SHAPE MAY BE FEATURED ON THE SMALL "WEAPONS OF MOROLAND PLACKS" SO YOU MIGHT SEARCH THE OLD FORUM FOR POSTS ON THEM. GOOD LUCK

Bill · 10th June 2008, 06:30 PM

That's a pretty cool shield. No idea where it's from. Wire is made for jewelry going back past the Egyptians but it was very difficult to make. If the wire is iron, it's made by draw die method & not manufactured to 2nd half of 19C. By then any shields would be from tribal areas. Hard to see from the pictures but it seems to lack wear/use. I've got several old Moro bracelets & one of them has hundreds of curled up pieces of brass wire in the same manner of the decorations of your shield, although it'd be the easiest design to use wire. The bracelets I have are only 2" in diameter, can't even get 3 fingers through let alone a wrist. I'd suspect if your shield is Moro, the forearm clamp would be for a rather slim arm.

7th June 2008, 09:20 PM	#1
Royston Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poole England Posts: 443	SHIELD IDENTIFICATION Can anyone help with identifying this shield ? I just bought it yesterday. The vendor thought it came from the Phillipines. It measures 26 x 11.5 inches and is carved from single block of wood. All of the metal is iron except for the decoration on the front which does not respond to a magnet. Thanks Royston Attached Images

8th June 2008, 08:36 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS!! A VERY NICE SHIELD SHOWING GOOD AGE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. IF THE SELLER IS CORRECT IT WOULD BE A MORO SHIELD, THE WAY THE GRIP IS MADE ON THE BACK ALSO REMINDS ME OF THE MORO STYLE. THE IRON DECORATION ON THE FRONT WOULD ALSO REINFORCE THE SHIELD AND HELP KEEP IT FROM SPLITTING WHEN STRUCK ON THE EDGES. HAVING SAID ALL THAT IT IS JUST MY GUESS AS I HAVE NOT SEEN A MORO SHIELD LIKE IT AS THE FEW I HAVE SEEN WERE ROUND. I THINK A SIMULAR SHAPE MAY BE FEATURED ON THE SMALL "WEAPONS OF MOROLAND PLACKS" SO YOU MIGHT SEARCH THE OLD FORUM FOR POSTS ON THEM. GOOD LUCK

10th June 2008, 06:30 PM	#3
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	That's a pretty cool shield. No idea where it's from. Wire is made for jewelry going back past the Egyptians but it was very difficult to make. If the wire is iron, it's made by draw die method & not manufactured to 2nd half of 19C. By then any shields would be from tribal areas. Hard to see from the pictures but it seems to lack wear/use. I've got several old Moro bracelets & one of them has hundreds of curled up pieces of brass wire in the same manner of the decorations of your shield, although it'd be the easiest design to use wire. The bracelets I have are only 2" in diameter, can't even get 3 fingers through let alone a wrist. I'd suspect if your shield is Moro, the forearm clamp would be for a rather slim arm.