Ethiopian Shield

[Nonoy Tan]

Since Bill has started the threads on leather shields, here is another one. The leather is quite thick.

I do not know anything about it.

Any opinions?

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hello,

This is a type of Somali shield.

Regards,

Martin

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

From the Somali people living in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya.
Made with giraffe or oryx leather.
Called gaschan.
Small : around 35cm
Luc

[Martin Lubojacky]

Luc,

This kind of shield has often been described also as Danakil in literature, this is true, but it has mainly been used by real Somali clans folks.

In that part of region, where mostly Affar/Danakil and Issa are prevailing - i. e. Djibouti, Danakil Depression, Western part of Somaliland or Ethiopian Ogaden, they used bigger, heavier and gibbous type with pronounced central "button" (which is very difficult to obtain nowadays, as that warriors never sold or gave it).

You have very, very nice photos...

Regards,

Martin

[Nonoy Tan]

Thanks to Martin and Luc for identifying and describing the origins of the shield!!!

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Some of these pics were posted on this forum by another member (I don't remenber who, sorry...)
Luc