Shield - Leather - Chawa - Oromo - Ethiopia

Chawa Shield Oromo Culture, Ethiopia. First half of the 20th century. Skin. Diameter: About 72 cm. Circular shield in thick skin, ornamented with a middle crest with radiant ribs. It is surrounded by six embossed, conical, symmetrically protrusions. An embossed halo is repeated next to the border of the shield. The latter is hemmed. The entire surface is punctuated with thin incisions. A few ancient, visible mends attest of its use. The backside is raw and centred by a thick grip. These shields were crafted with hippopotamus, or sometimes buffalo, skin. Stones in chosen dimensions, as well as long elements were placed, heated, on the ground, according to the desired pattern. The skin yoke then covered the composition and dried while under the sun, obtaining its relief. Some were then oiled or pigmented.