Shield ·  India, Naga · ID: 3037598

Description

rawhide, greyish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, of rectangular form with raised middle ridge, firm rotan handle wrapped with leather straps, loop for support, painted with white pigment (cross- , zigzag- and rhomb-shaped motifs), slightly dam. (rims), abrasion of paint;
such raw hide shields were used in war and had an important role as ceremonial symbols as well. They usually were made of elephant hides or those of some varieties of buffalo. They appear in the hands of the most expert dancers during the ritual dances on the occasion of funerals and are placed on the graves of the warriors.

The object Shield with the object ID 3037598 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 12.

You can find more Shields and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on Asian art.