Original Ethiopian 19th Century Tribal Ras Shield of Hide & Silver with Old Museum Tag - Original Hard Handgrip

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely Ethiopian Ras shield, the style used in 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman. East African shields were typically round in form and made from thick hide, but the addition of fine silver decoration was a unique development among Ethiopian royal courts.

The shield measures roughly 17” in diameter, and about 6 ½” tall not counting the rigid chin/head strap. The underside is lined in red. The body has dozens of small tapered silver panels, with the large central flat boss encircled by small domed bosses and star-shaped filigree panels. The underlying material is very well-patterned. Some pieces are loose, some are already missing, and some are hanging.

These were very popular trophies for British servicemen in Africa at the turn of the century. "The Abyssinian army ... was most experienced at fighting in its own environment, but by nature it was feudal rather than modern.  Tewodros had made some attempt to superimpose a central, imperial superstructure on the tribal nature of the kingdom, and in the more assimilated provinces his military appointees had superseded the power of the rasses; but for the most part, power resided in the chiefs, who were hereditary warlords.  Each ras or chief commanded his own followers, and their support for national campaigns depended on their allegiance to the Emperor.  Since they were not a standing army, Abyssinian warriors were not paid, but were expected to profit by looting, with the result that a class of warriors emerged who had enriched themselves through war, and whose continued prestige depended upon it.  They were the nearest thing that Abyssinia had to professional soldiers."

The underside shows degradation of the material, with a very small tag from a museum that is now difficult to read. Ready for further research and display!