Antique Turkana Shield with Black Metal Stand from Kenya - 42" H X 13" W

This warrior shield is an amazing piece from the early 1900s attributed to the Turkana peoples. The piece is rectangular in shape with a long wooden pole on the back along with a center curved handle. There is a long twisted leather cord and leather wrappings around the top and the bottom section of the wooden pole. The pole is extended at the bottom of the shield and the shield itself is animal hide.

Turkana warrior shields are made of animal hides, including giraffe, buffalo and hippo hides. These shields were not only used for protecting but were also an embodiment of power and prestige. A shield could be made for a feast day, for a ritual dance, or for a parade. They were also used for display by the owner in which communication is achieved through aesthetic power. Many have spent less time in the hands of warriors and more time hanging on the walls in the warrior's houses.

It can be mounted on a wall or displayed in an entry, great room or study on a console table or art stand with its custom black metal and lucite base. With its presence and clean lines, this piece would be at home in a variety of commercial or residential spaces and interiors ranging from Eclectic, Wabi Sabi to Industrial/Loft or Organic Modern.

Place of Origin: Kenya

Date of Manufacture: early-20th Century

Condition: Very Good

Wear: Consistent with age and use. Please refer to pictures.

Dimensions:

Shield: 41 in. H X 13 in. W X 5.5 in. D

Base: 7 in. L X 7 in. W X 1 in. H

Total: 42 in. H 

Reference: The Art of Africa by Elsy Leuzinger. Similar examples can be found in the permanent collection at the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University