Ethiopian Shield #3

Bill M · 1st October 2008, 12:25 AM

The third shield, a more common variety. Opinions?

spiral · 1st October 2008, 12:31 AM

I know nothing of these shields Bill , they looik good though

But pure intrest & curiosity means I must ask what thickness are they? Great finds I am sure...

Spiral

Jim McDougall · 1st October 2008, 12:55 AM

I believe thats Galla, from Ethiopia...got one identical to it. Don't think I have the notes with me, but think it was Lake Tana region.

VANDOO · 1st October 2008, 03:59 AM

NICE SHIELDS

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE ARE USUALLY MADE FROM HIPPO OR BUFFALOW HIDE IN THE SOUTHERN, CENTRAL REGION OF ETHIOPIA. I DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE LARGE BUMP DESIGNS BUT THEY ARE TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE OF SHIELD. THE ONE I HAVE AS WELL AS OTHERS I HAVE SEEN ARE LARGE, THICK AND HEAVY AND WOULD OFFER GOOD PROTECTION FROM EDGED WEAPONS. SOME HAVE A FLAT EDGE AND OTHERS HAVE A ROLLED EDGE TO BETTER RESIST A CUT TO THE SHIELD EDGE. THE EXAMPLE I HAVE WAS COLLECTED IN ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA. I HAD NOT SEEN THE METAL DESIGNS ON THE OLD EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST SO THAT MAY BE A MORE RECENT ARTISTIC INNOVATION, BUT IT DOES LOOK GOOD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PAGES 102 THRU 105 IN "SHIELDS Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania" by Prestel. from the collections of the Barbier- Mueller Museum. it is a good book on shields.

Tim Simmons · 1st October 2008, 07:04 AM

Splendid.

asomotif · 1st October 2008, 08:14 AM

Pretty common shield.

But pretty attractive too

Martin Lubojacky · 1st October 2008, 09:48 AM

Hello,

This is Wolaytta People shield from Ethiopia. Cca 15 years ago it was easily obtainable in Addis Ababa "antique" shops, now it is becoming more rare and also export of this items from Ethiopia is strictly prohibited. These shields use to be big and heavy (made of thick and very "dense" skin (but not elephant)). There are cca 4 types of this Wolaytta shields - with/without anteflexed rims and with smooth surface or decorated with small engravings arround all projections. The shield was carried so, that the holder was slipped on forearm and fingers retained leather springle fastened to the rim.

Regards,
Martin

Bill M · 1st October 2008, 11:29 AM

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

But could you take a look at the other two other less common shields I posted? I ma curious about these two examples, not having seen shields like these before.

I'll bump them up.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 1st October 2008, 01:30 PM

More common, but a good one.
Luc

Luc LEFEBVRE · 1st October 2008, 01:51 PM

A few documentation.
Luc

colin henshaw · 1st October 2008, 07:45 PM

A real shield - usually they have a turned-up rim, looking at it carefully perhaps it has been trimmed down around the circumference for some reason. (But I have seen others that look similar).

Regards

1st October 2008, 12:25 AM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Ethiopian Shield #3 The third shield, a more common variety. Opinions? Attached Images

1st October 2008, 01:51 PM	#10
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	A few documentation. Luc Attached Images

1st October 2008, 12:31 AM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I know nothing of these shields Bill , they looik good though But pure intrest & curiosity means I must ask what thickness are they? Great finds I am sure... Spiral

1st October 2008, 12:55 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,768	I believe thats Galla, from Ethiopia...got one identical to it. Don't think I have the notes with me, but think it was Lake Tana region.

1st October 2008, 03:59 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NICE SHIELDS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE ARE USUALLY MADE FROM HIPPO OR BUFFALOW HIDE IN THE SOUTHERN, CENTRAL REGION OF ETHIOPIA. I DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE LARGE BUMP DESIGNS BUT THEY ARE TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE OF SHIELD. THE ONE I HAVE AS WELL AS OTHERS I HAVE SEEN ARE LARGE, THICK AND HEAVY AND WOULD OFFER GOOD PROTECTION FROM EDGED WEAPONS. SOME HAVE A FLAT EDGE AND OTHERS HAVE A ROLLED EDGE TO BETTER RESIST A CUT TO THE SHIELD EDGE. THE EXAMPLE I HAVE WAS COLLECTED IN ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA. I HAD NOT SEEN THE METAL DESIGNS ON THE OLD EXAMPLES I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST SO THAT MAY BE A MORE RECENT ARTISTIC INNOVATION, BUT IT DOES LOOK GOOD. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PAGES 102 THRU 105 IN "SHIELDS Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania" by Prestel. from the collections of the Barbier- Mueller Museum. it is a good book on shields.

1st October 2008, 07:04 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Splendid.

1st October 2008, 08:14 AM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	Pretty common shield. But pretty attractive too

1st October 2008, 09:48 AM	#7
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Hello, This is Wolaytta People shield from Ethiopia. Cca 15 years ago it was easily obtainable in Addis Ababa "antique" shops, now it is becoming more rare and also export of this items from Ethiopia is strictly prohibited. These shields use to be big and heavy (made of thick and very "dense" skin (but not elephant)). There are cca 4 types of this Wolaytta shields - with/without anteflexed rims and with smooth surface or decorated with small engravings arround all projections. The shield was carried so, that the holder was slipped on forearm and fingers retained leather springle fastened to the rim. Regards, Martin

1st October 2008, 11:29 AM	#8
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thanks for all the replies, folks. But could you take a look at the other two other less common shields I posted? I ma curious about these two examples, not having seen shields like these before. I'll bump them up.

1st October 2008, 01:30 PM	#9
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	More common, but a good one. Luc

1st October 2008, 07:45 PM	#11
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	A real shield - usually they have a turned-up rim, looking at it carefully perhaps it has been trimmed down around the circumference for some reason. (But I have seen others that look similar). Regards