shield
hide (hippo or buffalo); outer surface with red and black pigment
late 19th-early 20th century
probably Oromo people
Ethiopia
diameter: approx. 72.5 cm
The shield has several old tribal repairs, stitching tears along the edges. The original semi-circular hide handle is affixed to the back of the shield.
Provenance: acquired in Ethiopia, by the present owner, Jack Daulton
For the type, see Purissima Benitez-Johannot, et al., Shields: Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. From the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum (Prestel, 2000), pg.104-105, ill. 35; Dieter Plaschke and Manfred A. Zirngibl, Afrikanische Schilde. African Shields (Panterra Verlag, 1992), pg. 69, ill. 59.
Standing on a lotus base flanked by an attendant and a small figure of the elephant Nalagiri crouching beside him, wearing a closely fitted sanghati with his left hand raised holding the tip of his robe, backed by an arched mandorla with flame border and two stupas flanking his head
