Rare Brass Atjeh Shield

[Dajak]

This shield is the one that is pictured in Zonneveld s book
now in my collection .

I have seen this type off shields in the Museum Depot.


Ben

[Albert]

A very nice one Ben, congratulations!

Albert

[VVV]

Congratulations!

And also from a very nice collection.

Michael

[Dajak]

Hi Albert and Michael thanks for the comment .
And yes it has great provonance and from an old Dutch collect(or)ion. :D :D
The strange about the shield is that the number is even 6 no 5,7 or 9
That is the strange thing about it .

Ben

[Flavio]

Beautiful! Simple and very elegant!! Congratulations :)

[asomotif]

Recently a very (very) similar shield was sold with 5 bosses (4 + 1 in the middle)
I checked my files but could not find any pictures sad enough.

But still a rather rare type. heavy too.

[Dajak]

Hi Willem to me I think this was the only type off brass shield that
was also in Use for fighting .
The other brass ones more ceremonial and some made for tourist .
Ben

[asomotif]

Hi Ben,

Hi Willem to me I think this was the only type off brass shield that
was also in Use for fighting .
The other brass ones more ceremonial and some made for tourist .

As this type of shield is quite rare, this would suggest that people in Aceh where rather peacefull :D :D :D

Ps. I found a picture of the one that was on sale last jan 2007.
Looks a lot alike. doesn't it?

Best regards,
Willem

[Dajak]

Hi Willem yes these type off shields are rare not easy to find an other one .
The other brass shields are more common .


Ben

[Dajak]

I found an shield that was collected in early 1900 same as yours Willem .

It comes from an Dutch knil officer to me more proof that these shields are in use before 1900 .


I put an pic from the officer and an document that he was in the Atjeh in early 1900.

This comes from his collection .

That is now in my hands .

Ben

[asomotif]

Yep, I was bidding on this one too.
But the state of the shield was too bad to get me bidding against you.

Nice that he also gave some info on the original owner.
Provenance is rare too.

[Dajak]

Hi Willem I did get the full history of this Dutch KNIL officer very nice with an lot off pics.

I think these type off brass shields are the only one s that where used in batlle the other type I never found proof off .

Ben

[josh stout]

Rattan shields were commonly used in China, and the Tibetan ones were quite similar to the Acehnese one pictured except that the bosses would be iron not brass. It is interesting considering the similarity of some Aceh swords with Tibetan shaped blades and folding...
Josh

[Dajak]

Hi Josh I now that there are persian shields that have Iron
Bosses.
I have never seen Atjeh ones with Iron.


Ben

[josh stout]

Here is a Tibetan one. Some are even more similar in appearance.
http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Warriors_of_the_Himalayas/view_1.asp?item=3
Josh