Ethiopian Shield #1

colin henshaw · 1st October 2008, 05:47 PM

A number of these Southern Ethiopian shields appeared on the London market in the early 1990s, and they have featured in various gallery exhibitions. They are still to be found for sale around, and I have one myself. Many I know were polished up using I suppose oils and/or boot-polish, whether done in Europe or Africa I can't say.

The early examples seen did not have metal inlay as I remember, so maybe these are embellishments - not sure. My own opinion is that this one is not a fake, but might have been "fancied-up"

Regards

Tim Simmons · 1st October 2008, 06:51 PM

I can see and respect Luc's views. I would like to suggest that perhaps these are just late versions rather than fakes or copies. I would bet shields like these were worn in battle against the Italians in the 1930s and were probably still in isolated local use for tribal fighting untill the mid to late 20th century. One also has to bare in mind stick fighting sport and festivals, shields being part of the spectacle? Hippos hides may well have become a lot harder to aquire even in the early part of the 20th century, so perhaps cow hide was also used. Look at it this way the same skills are used. I must say the metal work is nice, a lot of work and fancy addition just to make a lesser copy?

katana · 1st October 2008, 08:45 PM

Hi Bill,
I think I have to agree with Tim... rather than a 'copy', it is just of a more recent manufacture.....how recent? difficult to tell from pictures

But leather does have a tendancy to look alot 'newer' with some 'leather feed' and a layer of polish.

Regards David

1st October 2008, 05:47 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	A number of these Southern Ethiopian shields appeared on the London market in the early 1990s, and they have featured in various gallery exhibitions. They are still to be found for sale around, and I have one myself. Many I know were polished up using I suppose oils and/or boot-polish, whether done in Europe or Africa I can't say. The early examples seen did not have metal inlay as I remember, so maybe these are embellishments - not sure. My own opinion is that this one is not a fake, but might have been "fancied-up" Regards

1st October 2008, 06:51 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	I can see and respect Luc's views. I would like to suggest that perhaps these are just late versions rather than fakes or copies. I would bet shields like these were worn in battle against the Italians in the 1930s and were probably still in isolated local use for tribal fighting untill the mid to late 20th century. One also has to bare in mind stick fighting sport and festivals, shields being part of the spectacle? Hippos hides may well have become a lot harder to aquire even in the early part of the 20th century, so perhaps cow hide was also used. Look at it this way the same skills are used. I must say the metal work is nice, a lot of work and fancy addition just to make a lesser copy?

1st October 2008, 08:45 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Bill, I think I have to agree with Tim... rather than a 'copy', it is just of a more recent manufacture.....how recent? difficult to tell from pictures But leather does have a tendancy to look alot 'newer' with some 'leather feed' and a layer of polish. Regards David