Mongo shield? how can I preserve it?

katana · 21st March 2006, 05:46 PM

Hi everyone,
another addition, this shield which I believe to be Mongo (thanks to Luc's website), please correct me if I'm wrong.
The shield is 55 1/2 inches long and 11'' wide. The problem is the weaved material has areas where it is very brittle, is there anything I can apply which would help to prevent this?, thanking you in advance

Tim Simmons · 21st March 2006, 05:53 PM

Well done. I have seen some very good restoration work done by basket weavers. Unfortunately not all crafts people are creative so you might have to look around. I would not play with any glues unless you are experienced.

katana · 22nd March 2006, 11:58 AM

Tim,
the shield seems to offer very little protect from steel blades/spears.
Was this type of shield used in combat? Or is it more ritualistic? Or even some sort of fashion statement! I believe the shield (in battle) was better than nothing, but effectively holding an elongated 'basket' against attack from a stabbing spear........

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd March 2006, 08:50 PM

This is a MONGO shield attribute to the NGATA.
Semi-large type called gube.
Yours seems to have a clear part in the middle part : some shields are covered in the center with another plaited part to reinforce the front.
See the pictures at the bottom...
I don't think you need to repair it, just clean it.
Yes, this kind of shield was used for war.
"The most often used material for wickerwork comes from the central vein (rachis) of the leaves of different palm trees (elaïs, borassus, piassava,raphia...)" GUBA Ivan Baur Africa shields Vol I

Well done they are strong enough to protect from arrows, some spears, throwing knife and they are especially light for close-combat.

Yours is a nice one, they are not easy to find in good state, and cost a lot, even in Belgium where we can find some.
The rarest are the ZANDE shields, shorter, nicest one, and very expensive.
I have the "big" model of Mongo:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/mongo.html

Luc

Luc LEFEBVRE · 22nd March 2006, 08:57 PM

If you like Central-African shields, buy these books:
http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/GUBA-1-2-Bou...QQcmdZViewItem

or here
http://www.congoarts.com/page2.htm

Luc

Tim Simmons · 22nd March 2006, 08:57 PM

Yes!

katana · 22nd March 2006, 10:09 PM

Thankyou both,
Luc you have roused my curiosity, you said that this shield would be expensive, would you mind giving me an approximate amount in Euro's. It's nice to know the value of some of the pieces that I'm collecting. I have never seen or heard of a 'price guide' for African weapons, is there such a thing?

21st March 2006, 05:46 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Mongo shield? how can I preserve it? Hi everyone, another addition, this shield which I believe to be Mongo (thanks to Luc's website), please correct me if I'm wrong. The shield is 55 1/2 inches long and 11'' wide. The problem is the weaved material has areas where it is very brittle, is there anything I can apply which would help to prevent this?, thanking you in advance Attached Images

22nd March 2006, 08:50 PM	#4
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	MONGO NGATA This is a MONGO shield attribute to the NGATA. Semi-large type called gube. Yours seems to have a clear part in the middle part : some shields are covered in the center with another plaited part to reinforce the front. See the pictures at the bottom... I don't think you need to repair it, just clean it. Yes, this kind of shield was used for war. "The most often used material for wickerwork comes from the central vein (rachis) of the leaves of different palm trees (elaïs, borassus, piassava,raphia...)" GUBA Ivan Baur Africa shields Vol I Well done they are strong enough to protect from arrows, some spears, throwing knife and they are especially light for close-combat. Yours is a nice one, they are not easy to find in good state, and cost a lot, even in Belgium where we can find some. The rarest are the ZANDE shields, shorter, nicest one, and very expensive. I have the "big" model of Mongo: http://lulef.free.fr/html/mongo.html Luc Attached Images

22nd March 2006, 08:57 PM	#5
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	GUBA If you like Central-African shields, buy these books: http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/GUBA-1-2-Bou...QQcmdZViewItem or here http://www.congoarts.com/page2.htm Luc

21st March 2006, 05:53 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Well done. I have seen some very good restoration work done by basket weavers. Unfortunately not all crafts people are creative so you might have to look around. I would not play with any glues unless you are experienced.

22nd March 2006, 11:58 AM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Tim, the shield seems to offer very little protect from steel blades/spears. Was this type of shield used in combat? Or is it more ritualistic? Or even some sort of fashion statement! I believe the shield (in battle) was better than nothing, but effectively holding an elongated 'basket' against attack from a stabbing spear........

22nd March 2006, 10:09 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thankyou both, Luc you have roused my curiosity, you said that this shield would be expensive, would you mind giving me an approximate amount in Euro's. It's nice to know the value of some of the pieces that I'm collecting. I have never seen or heard of a 'price guide' for African weapons, is there such a thing?