African shield for ID

[Iain]

Hi Martin,

I agree the Musgum shield is quite different in size, but the construction seems identical.

I have been looking through the few resources I have, but found nothing so far. Smaller shield about this size are of course common in the Bauchi region, but the Berom shields are usually palm bark and of course no help.

Colin rightly notes similarities with Mambila shields. Here is a good link about them. http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/...shield-bg.html

However one thing I notice immediately is the difference in size, proportions and grip (braided thong instead of a solid piece of wood).

I also agree that the shield looks a bit 'new'. But I am completely unsure of how old reed shields usually appear. Another point of concern for me is that most shields of this material and from this region I have seen are not entirely flat like this. They are concave...

Regardless, it is an interesting item, I need to get into shields at some point!

Cheers,

Iain