Zulu shield, South Africa 19th century Wood and... Lot 29

Zulu shield, South Africa 19th century Wood and zebra skin H. 120 cm - L. 64 cm Provenance : Stefan Domoney, London, United Kingdom Zulu shields, symbols strongly anchored in the imagination of the African warrior, are called ishilunga. Made of cowhide or, as shown here, zebra skin, they are stiffened by a frame consisting of a wooden handle sewn to the inside. The Zulu's warrior practices are a benchmark, not least because of the army's organization into impi, which are regiments based on age. Each regiment had its own particular headdress and shield. Our example would have belonged to an elite warrior, as it is white with black spots. Younger, less experienced warriors, on the other hand, had all-black shields, while married warriors had brown shields. After the fall of the Zulu empire in 1879, shields took on a more symbolic role, notably during nomkubulwana ceremonies for the Goddess of Rain, Nature and Fertility. Nice and rare copy.