A Songye Shield for comment
 

Hi
recently acquired this Songye Shield ....carved from a single piece of wood. Some minor damage /chips. Fits in the hand nicely and seems quite functional. Whitish pigment (flash makes it appear very white) highlighting carved details. The face seems quite 'war-like' ...seems to have a helmet with nasal protection, the cubed shaped representation of the mouth with the 'X' seems symbolic.

All information / comments gratefully received, thank you

Kind Regards David

Sorry, it's a copy.

Hi Luc,
please, could you explain why ? Thank you

Regards David

Look at the color of the backside, the way it is carved, the patina on the side of the shield and the design of the pattern.
Look at the carving of the head and compare with the good one.

Songye dance shields are very attractive with the mask on the center, but very very rare, and really expensive.
Here some other fake, you can buy them for 50€ on ebay or other sites.

Here scans from the book GUBA Vol2 from Jan Elsen & Ivan Baur, you can find good old Songye/Luba shields and make the difference.
:o

And this is the Songye Shield of the Mestach Collection.
Look at the head, the "delicacy" of the carving and the details.

Hi Luc,
thank you for adding to the thread, I appreciate it. I realised when I bought the shield that it wasn't that old, but thought it may have been perhaps a dance/ceremonial shield due to some wear to the handle. I bought this VERY cheaply, to display with some spears. I actually like it ...at least it is genuine African and only cost me a few 'beers' ;) .

All the best
David

So, no problem !
Just for deco.