Early 20th Century Amarro Arussi Leather Shield Ethiopia

Details

Description

A large, rounded Ethiopian shield made out of leather that could be attributed to various Ethiopian groups or even to … Read more A large, rounded Ethiopian shield made out of leather that could be attributed to various Ethiopian groups or even to Central African warrior groups.
Ethiopian shields come in a variety of designs and decorations (beads, silver strips, etc.). They are made of various media that include wood, metal, and vegetable fiber (rattan or raffia). Leather is preferable for the hide is strong and resistant. The visual effect, the functionality, and the practical purposes of the piece dictated the form a shield should take. 
A good shield should offer a maximum of protection. The material used should be strong and durable. Almost all people of Africa made use of the shield. In many cultures, shields like this were known as a defensive weapon, used by the warriors during combat, but shields were also displayed as emblems of status or rank and also as accessories of dance during festivals, commemorative ceremonies or after a victory.
See a similar example in the Musee Dapper's CHASSEURS ET GUERRIERS; AFRICA: The Art of a Continent, edited by Tom Phillips,(See p. 126 in the above-referenced volume and also, p. 69 in African Shields by Dieter Plaschke and Manfred A. Zirngibl,) see also Marc Ginzberg. AFRICAN FORMS, pp. 168, 171






Height (In) 23.0Width (In) 23.0Depth (In) 10.0






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