370 - SHIELD - Kenya, Tanzania - Maasai

SHIELD - Kenya, Tanzania - Maasai First half of the 20th century. Leather, wood, natural pigments, animal hair. Dimensions: 44 cm. An elliptical shield made of thick leather (buffalo or zebu) sewn and stretched over a wooden frame. The rim is reinforced by a wide border of braided leather strips, revealing the original hair of the raw hide in places. The outer surface features an asymmetrical polychrome design. The pattern is structured by a vertical axis accented with chevrons and mounting holes. Among the Maasai, the specific combination of broken circles, crescents, and sawtooth patterns painted on the leather indicated a warrior’s military status, his bravery in battle, or his membership in a specific lineage. Condition: Slight wear from friction on the paint, small localized losses, and superficial cracking inherent to the nature of the leather and the age of the piece. Research and documentation: Coryse Mwape, art historian specializing in ancient African art. Internal ref.: