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Martin Lubojacky
23rd March 2012, 12:41 PM
One of the very last Nigerian acquisitions. cca 135 x 100 cms
Regards,
Martin

Iain
23rd March 2012, 12:51 PM
Fantastic piece Martin! This old photo shows a similar shield and should be from the Mambila I think?

Martin Lubojacky
23rd March 2012, 01:39 PM
Yes, Mambila. I also like it and value it a lot.

Iain
23rd March 2012, 02:27 PM
Did you read this book before? "Tribal Studies in Northern Nigeria"? It has lot of information on this people group and some nice photos. :)

http://books.google.cz/books?id=iUkVAAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA532&vq=mambila&dq=mambila%20warriors&hl=cs&pg=PA532#v=snippet&q=mambila&f=false

Martin Lubojacky
23rd March 2012, 03:12 PM
Not yet, Thanks for good reference.
Regards,
Martin

Iain
23rd March 2012, 03:15 PM
I'm afraid the whole book is not available online but the chapter about Mambila is so we are lucky! :)

VANDOO
24th March 2012, 03:47 AM
A BEAUTIFUL SHIELD AND A WORTHY CENTERPIECE FOR ANY COLLECTION. CONGRADULATIONS :D

Martin Lubojacky
25th March 2012, 08:42 PM
Thank you Vandoo, I was looking for it intensively 4 years

VANDOO
25th March 2012, 09:17 PM
I DOUBT YOU COULD HAVE FOUND A BETTER ONE IF YOU HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR 50 YEARS. :D
THIS EXAMPLE WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE BY A FIRST CLASS SHIELD MAKER NOT A LESSER ARTIST. ONLY SOMEONE WITH WEALTH OR POSITION WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD SUCH A SHIELD. I AM SURE THIS MUCH WORK DID NOT GO INTO MAKING THE AVERAGE EVERY MANS SHIELDS.
THE USE OF THE PURPLE DYE IS INTERESTING DOES IT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICENCE IN AFRICA? THE TUREG USE A DARK BLUE DYE FOR THEIR ROBES BUT THIS APPEARS MORE PURPLE WHICH IN EUROPE WAS A COLOR RESERVED FOR ROYALTY. ITS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF SUCH ITEMS EVEN IF THEY WERE MENT FOR WAR. IN THE CASE OF YOUR SHIELD I AM GLAD THERE ARE NO SPEAR OR BULLET HOLES IN IT AS THAT DOES ADD CHARACTER BUT DESTROYS BEAUTY.

Martin Lubojacky
26th March 2012, 05:38 PM
The shield allegedly belonged to one of chiefs (the family had two and they sold one). As far as colours are concerned, I do not know, but it would be interesting to know the meaning... (I know (not only) the colour of the shields played a role in the case of Masai shields.)