Shield · D. R. Congo, Topoke · ID: 3035361
Michel Thieme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
wood, rattan, roof-shaped, the back of the shield is covered with split bamboo-like reeds tightly bound together, decorated with wickerwork, min. dam., slight traces of usage and abrasion;
one of the oldest sources on the presence of wooden shields in this region is from H. M. Stanley (“Durch den dunklen Weltteil”, Leipzig 1881, vol. II, p. 288): “The shields were shaped like long rectangles, beautifully made from the bark of a palm tree and thus light, tough and impenetrable for knife and spear.”
The object Shield with the object ID 3035361 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 411 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,100.
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Comparing literature
Zirngibl, Manfred A. & Dieter Plaschke, Afrikanische Schilde, München 1992, p. 90 f.