North Cameroon Shields

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These two shields are from one or more of the peoples from northern Cameroon savana, at the boarder with Chad (Paduko, Bana, Mufu, Kirdi). 

 

Beyond their rarity, what to be loved about these shields is their construction. Entirely made of organic material, for one the pannel is made of palm tree bark bounded in leather (probably goat skin) and for the other one woven cane (in which cotton was originally inserted) also bound in leather stripes and tighten around branches of the palm tree. 

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For a field photo of the left example, see Marcel Griaule (1898 - 1956) « Groupe de Kirdi », Mayo-Sava, Mission Dakar-Djibouti, 19 mai 1931 - 17 février 1933, PP0031024 at Quai Branly Jacques Chirac museum.

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Both pieces date from the late 19th or early 20th century.

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H: 100 cm and 104 cm

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Provenance: Duende Art Projects, Belgium ; Justin Barthels, Maastricht.

 

Price: 900 euros (left) and 1300 euros (right) enquiry

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