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Shield

A work made of hide.

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  • A work made of hide.

Date:

Late 19th/early 20th century

Artist:

Oromo or Sidano
Ethiopia
Eastern and Southern Africa

About this artwork

For peoples in the peninsula of northeast Africa, hide-covered shields connote the courage of warriors and are important insignia of manhood. Among the Oromo and Sidaama peoples of southern Ethiopia, such shields are made of buffalo or, more rarely, hippopotamus hide by skilled specialists who mount the hide over a concave frame embedded with stones. At a man’s funeral his shield and spear may be carried by a male relative or displayed in his memory.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Oromo

Title

Shield

Place

Ethiopia (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1875–1925

Medium

Hide

Dimensions

Approx.: H.: 76.2 cm (30 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Muriel Kallis Newman in honor of James Cuno

Reference Number

2004.474

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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