Zande shield
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1884.30.33
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
?Before 1858
Materials:
Palm Leaf Plant , Cane Plant? , Wood Plant? , Lizard Skin Reptile? , Animal Hide Skin , Plant Fibre
Process:
Wicker Woven , Basketry , Twined Woven , Perforated , Carved , Stitched Twisted Knotted
Dimensions:
L = 1116, W = 563, th edges = 17.6 mm; handle mount L = 377, W = 565, handle W = 32.4, hollow for hand = 98 by 115 mm; cane stitches W = 2, cane binding W = 3, L reptile strip = 83.2 mm [RTS 18/1/2005].
Weight:
>1000 g
Local Name:
?abrooda Kube
Other Owners:
Collected by John Petherick in 1858, and shipped back to England in 1859. Acquired by Pitt Rivers at an auction of Petherick's material, held by Mr Bullock of High Holborn, London, on 27th June 1862, as lot 60 - see the Catalogue of the very interesting c
Field Collector:
John Petherick
PRM Source:
Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
Acquired:
Donated 1884
Collected Date:
1858
Description:
Large basketry shield consisting of an oval body with a wooden handle and handle surround set into the centre on one side.
The body has been made of several narrow flat-sectioned pieces of brown cane or wood (Pantone 462C), laid parallel to one another and tightly woven together with narrow strips of coloured palm fibre.
There are 2 such lattices making up the body, placed together and laid and at right angles to one another.
The front lattice has rows that run horizontally across the width of the shield, while on the underside the rows run vertically down its length, except on the curved ends where the rows run as arcs rather than straight; divisions between the 2 semicircular ends and rectangular body show that both front and back lattice were actually made as 3 parts joined together.
The ends of the cane strips are split, and woven into an outer frame, made of one thin, and then one thick piece of wood with a rather flattish oval section, bent into an oval shape.
This gives the shield a solid frame that stands slightly proud from the body surface.
The inner part of this has been tightly bound with narrow palm strips at an oblique angle, that form a herringbone pattern on the inside face; the outer part is bound with similar strips, laid at right angles to the core.
At one of the curved ends of the shield, a short rectangular strip of lizard or snake skin has been wrapped around the outer frame, and secured by a row of stitches along either long side, using a piece of cord made up of twisted 2-ply plant fibres.
This may be a device to prevent wear on its base.
The front and back of the shield have been decorated with a matching pattern created by contrasting the natural yellow of some strips (Pantone 7509C) with other strips that have been dyed a dark brown (Pantone black 7C); these would have been dyed before weaving the body, rather than afterwards. The lighter colour has been used to pick out a pattern against the darker background, which consists of a 4 row wide band of yellow that runs as a border just inside the outer framework, then a rectangular design running down the centre of the shield, which consists of 2 concentric rectangles with pointed ends running as horizontal bands at top and bottom, with 2 vertical rectangular bands of yellow at right angles between. These vertical elements are filled with geometric motifs made up of running lozenges and triangles in brown.
On the back of the shield, a handle has been added as a separate piece, carved from a single block of wood, coloured (possibly burnt) a dark brown (Pantone black 4C). This has a flat rectangular surround, but thickens at the centre, where a hexagonal area has been hollowed out, leaving a rectangular piece across the centre, to act as a handle with the space behind allowing room for the knuckles when the grip is used. The wickerwork on the front of the shield bulges out slightly at this point, creating a central boss. The top of the handle itself is flat, while its underside is convex. The rectangular surround has been pierced a number of times, to allow it to be sewn onto the wicker body beneath. There are 5 holes along the top and bottom edges, which have been stitched using thin lengths of yellow cane (Pantone 7510C); on both ends, a horizontal piece of the same material has been laid under the stitching and parallel to the edge as an added decorative element. The side edges have a more complex fastening method, with 3 groups of 4 holes each bored in horizontal rows near each edge, through which similar cane strips are sewn. In one of the central groups, 3 of the holes have been missed out. There are 2 further groups of 3 holes each set slightly in from each side, which have been partially used by some oblique stitching. These are probably part of the original handle design, which was overridden when a decision was made to add 2 vertical rows of oblique stitching that run in a zigzag down either long side. Each section of the zigzag is composed of 6 parallel cane strips, which pass through holes at top and bottom; however the holes for this part of the stitching are smaller and less well formed than the groups of holes described above, suggesting that they may be a later addition. They may also be purely decorative, rather than a means of securing the handle panel, as the stitches do not appear on the front of the shield.
A short length of 2-ply twisted fibre cord has been tied around the handle strut, probably as a suspension loop; this is an orangey brown colour (Pantone 4635C). There is also a short piece of hide band pushed through the wicker bodywork on one side; this divides into two twisted sections at one end; its function is unknown.
The object is essentially complete, although one section of stitching has been lost, the ends of the cord are fraying and there are some broken areas of palm binding across the surface, while the reptile skin band is damaged in places. The shield is 1116 mm long, 563 mm wide and 17.6 mm thick at its edge; the handle mount is 377 mm long and 565 mm wide, while the handle grip has a width of 32.4 mm and sits across a hollow that measures 98 by 115 mm. The cane stitching strips are 2 mm wide, while the palm binding has a typical width of 3 mm; the fibre cord around the handle has a diameter of 2 mm, and the reptile skin strip is 83.2 mm long.
Collected by John Petherick in the Southern Sudan in 1858. Petherick lived in Khartoum from 1853-1858, mounting several trading expeditions into the Sudanese interior during this period. He entered Zande territory for the first time on 24th February 1858, while on his fifth such expedition, visiting the villages of Mundo, Kangamboo and Baranj. This object was probably collected during this trip, as Petherick did not venture into this region again. His collection was shipped back to England in 1859. It was acquired by Pitt Rivers at an auction of Petherick's material, held by Mr Bullock of High Holborn, London, on 27th June 1862, as lot 60 - see the Catalogue of the very interesting collection of arms and implements of war, husbandry, and the chase, and articles of costume and domestic use, procured during several expeditions up the White Nile, Bahr-il-Gazal, and among the various tribes of the country, to the cannibal Neam Nam territory on the Equator, by John Petherick, Esq., H.M. Consul, Khartoum, Soudan, p. 6 "[lot] 60. A very fine shield of reeds and palm-tree leaf (Neam Nam) - see U.S. Journal, fig. 19, and book [Petherick 1861], page 456". Pitt Rivers sent this object to Bethnal Green Museum for display, as part of the first batch of objects sent there, probably in 1874. This object was later displayed in the South Kensington Museum, and transferred from there to become part of the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1884.
Petherick describes the Zande shield as follows: 'The Neam Nam ... shield is made of reeds, or the leaf of the palm-tree, interwoven in tasteful patterns of variegated colours .... When giving battle the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron missiles [i.e.: throwing knives] … suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield, lying directly over the handle of it, the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in his left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails his enemy … The shield made of so light a substance will not repel a lance but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in it furnishes him with his enemy's weapons in lieu of his own which he is supposed to have cast.' (J. Petherick, 1860, 'On the arms of the Arab and Negro Tribes of Central Africa, bordering on the White Nile', Journal of the Royal United Services Institution IV no. 13, p. 176). Further descriptions are published in his 1861 publication, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, 'Their arms consist of ... a large oblong shield, formed of closely woven matting, composed of several patterns, and dyed with many colours. In the centre of the interior is a wooden handle …' (p. 469); Petherick goes on to list the Zande term for shield as abrooda (p. 481). See also J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa, p. 280-281.
Evans-Pritchard comments that 'the bearing of shields seems to have been forbidden by the British Administration soon after its occupation [in 1905], so that, except for a few old ones preserved out of sentiment, they were no longer to be seen in the 1920's, though there were craftsmen who could still make them' (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande , p. 100).
For photographs of Zande warriors demonstrating the use of similar shields, see Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande, plate IV, and several unpublished images in the PRM photographic archives: 1998.341.1, 1998.341.12, 1998.341.45-48, 1998.341.113, 1998.341.243, 1998.341.311, 1998.341.345, 1998.341.359, 1998.341.363, 1998.341.367, 1998.341.394, 1998.341.402, 1998.341.423, 1998.341.764-766; for images of a Zande craftsmen called Mamenze weaving a wickerwork shield, see 1998.341.63 and 1998.341.152. These images were taken by Evans-Pritchard sometime between 1926 and 1930 (information courtesy of Chris Morton).
For a discussion of the technique used to manufacture this kind of object, see D. Frazer, A Guide to Weft Twining, pp. 112-113. This shield is very similar to one identified as the kube by Plaschke and Zirngibl, in African Shields, 1992. They add the comments: ' The expressively designed shields of the Zande ... were made with great care, in particular, with regard to the artistically decorated handle board... several basic variations of the Zande shields [are known]. They vary in size and in wicker design, and are regarded as the most important identification markings of the warrior. The so-called gbilija , made of particularly thin and closely woven wicker, were carried by the highest dignitaries, who kept to the rear and were never found in the forward lines during battle. In contrast, the kube, the shields of the great warriors, were always strikingly decorated. Wickerwork patterns enabled warriors at night to distinguish between friend and foe. Obscuring these identification markings in battle was punished most severely. Woven out of relatively wide strips of reed, the shield of an ordinary man, called kpawangbwada , although much less sturdy, was nevertheless very functional' (D. Plaschke and M.A. Zirngibl, 1992, African Shields, p104 onwards). Evans-Pritchard describes four types of shield: Kube, kpangbada and bazakube, from the Ambomu, and tuango borrowed from the Amiangba, but comments that other sources replace the last two terms with the terms gbiliga and gbulu (Evans-Pritchard 1971, p. 100). It is not clear where Petherick's term abrooda fits into this system, or what language it actually belongs to.
This shield is illustrated in J. & K. Petherick, 1861, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, p. 481; it is not very accurately drawn. It is also illustrated in colour as figure 257 on page 263 of The Victorian Vision: Inventing New Britain, edited by John M. MacKenzie (London: V&A Publications, 2001), with a caption reading: 'Zande shield. Basketry, Zande, Congo/Sudan. Pitt Rivers Museum, from the collection of John Petherick.' See also the section of the Shields and Objects, Anthropology and Museums website on Zande shields, which includes an image of this object on display, reproduces the 1874 catalogue entry for the item, and shows images of its front and back views - http://pittweb.prm.ox.ac.uk/Kent/misc/introset.html.
This object is currently on display in the Upper Gallery, Case 3A.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
The front and back of the shield have been decorated with a matching pattern created by contrasting the natural yellow of some strips (Pantone 7509C) with other strips that have been dyed a dark brown (Pantone black 7C); these would have been dyed before weaving the body, rather than afterwards. The lighter colour has been used to pick out a pattern against the darker background, which consists of a 4 row wide band of yellow that runs as a border just inside the outer framework, then a rectangular design running down the centre of the shield, which consists of 2 concentric rectangles with pointed ends running as horizontal bands at top and bottom, with 2 vertical rectangular bands of yellow at right angles between. These vertical elements are filled with geometric motifs made up of running lozenges and triangles in brown.
On the back of the shield, a handle has been added as a separate piece, carved from a single block of wood, coloured (possibly burnt) a dark brown (Pantone black 4C). This has a flat rectangular surround, but thickens at the centre, where a hexagonal area has been hollowed out, leaving a rectangular piece across the centre, to act as a handle with the space behind allowing room for the knuckles when the grip is used. The wickerwork on the front of the shield bulges out slightly at this point, creating a central boss. The top of the handle itself is flat, while its underside is convex. The rectangular surround has been pierced a number of times, to allow it to be sewn onto the wicker body beneath. There are 5 holes along the top and bottom edges, which have been stitched using thin lengths of yellow cane (Pantone 7510C); on both ends, a horizontal piece of the same material has been laid under the stitching and parallel to the edge as an added decorative element. The side edges have a more complex fastening method, with 3 groups of 4 holes each bored in horizontal rows near each edge, through which similar cane strips are sewn. In one of the central groups, 3 of the holes have been missed out. There are 2 further groups of 3 holes each set slightly in from each side, which have been partially used by some oblique stitching. These are probably part of the original handle design, which was overridden when a decision was made to add 2 vertical rows of oblique stitching that run in a zigzag down either long side. Each section of the zigzag is composed of 6 parallel cane strips, which pass through holes at top and bottom; however the holes for this part of the stitching are smaller and less well formed than the groups of holes described above, suggesting that they may be a later addition. They may also be purely decorative, rather than a means of securing the handle panel, as the stitches do not appear on the front of the shield.
A short length of 2-ply twisted fibre cord has been tied around the handle strut, probably as a suspension loop; this is an orangey brown colour (Pantone 4635C). There is also a short piece of hide band pushed through the wicker bodywork on one side; this divides into two twisted sections at one end; its function is unknown.
The object is essentially complete, although one section of stitching has been lost, the ends of the cord are fraying and there are some broken areas of palm binding across the surface, while the reptile skin band is damaged in places. The shield is 1116 mm long, 563 mm wide and 17.6 mm thick at its edge; the handle mount is 377 mm long and 565 mm wide, while the handle grip has a width of 32.4 mm and sits across a hollow that measures 98 by 115 mm. The cane stitching strips are 2 mm wide, while the palm binding has a typical width of 3 mm; the fibre cord around the handle has a diameter of 2 mm, and the reptile skin strip is 83.2 mm long.
Collected by John Petherick in the Southern Sudan in 1858. Petherick lived in Khartoum from 1853-1858, mounting several trading expeditions into the Sudanese interior during this period. He entered Zande territory for the first time on 24th February 1858, while on his fifth such expedition, visiting the villages of Mundo, Kangamboo and Baranj. This object was probably collected during this trip, as Petherick did not venture into this region again. His collection was shipped back to England in 1859. It was acquired by Pitt Rivers at an auction of Petherick's material, held by Mr Bullock of High Holborn, London, on 27th June 1862, as lot 60 - see the Catalogue of the very interesting collection of arms and implements of war, husbandry, and the chase, and articles of costume and domestic use, procured during several expeditions up the White Nile, Bahr-il-Gazal, and among the various tribes of the country, to the cannibal Neam Nam territory on the Equator, by John Petherick, Esq., H.M. Consul, Khartoum, Soudan, p. 6 "[lot] 60. A very fine shield of reeds and palm-tree leaf (Neam Nam) - see U.S. Journal, fig. 19, and book [Petherick 1861], page 456". Pitt Rivers sent this object to Bethnal Green Museum for display, as part of the first batch of objects sent there, probably in 1874. This object was later displayed in the South Kensington Museum, and transferred from there to become part of the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1884.
Petherick describes the Zande shield as follows: 'The Neam Nam ... shield is made of reeds, or the leaf of the palm-tree, interwoven in tasteful patterns of variegated colours .... When giving battle the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron missiles [i.e.: throwing knives] … suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield, lying directly over the handle of it, the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in his left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails his enemy … The shield made of so light a substance will not repel a lance but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in it furnishes him with his enemy's weapons in lieu of his own which he is supposed to have cast.' (J. Petherick, 1860, 'On the arms of the Arab and Negro Tribes of Central Africa, bordering on the White Nile', Journal of the Royal United Services Institution IV no. 13, p. 176). Further descriptions are published in his 1861 publication, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, 'Their arms consist of ... a large oblong shield, formed of closely woven matting, composed of several patterns, and dyed with many colours. In the centre of the interior is a wooden handle …' (p. 469); Petherick goes on to list the Zande term for shield as abrooda (p. 481). See also J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa, p. 280-281.
Evans-Pritchard comments that 'the bearing of shields seems to have been forbidden by the British Administration soon after its occupation [in 1905], so that, except for a few old ones preserved out of sentiment, they were no longer to be seen in the 1920's, though there were craftsmen who could still make them' (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande , p. 100).
For photographs of Zande warriors demonstrating the use of similar shields, see Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande, plate IV, and several unpublished images in the PRM photographic archives: 1998.341.1, 1998.341.12, 1998.341.45-48, 1998.341.113, 1998.341.243, 1998.341.311, 1998.341.345, 1998.341.359, 1998.341.363, 1998.341.367, 1998.341.394, 1998.341.402, 1998.341.423, 1998.341.764-766; for images of a Zande craftsmen called Mamenze weaving a wickerwork shield, see 1998.341.63 and 1998.341.152. These images were taken by Evans-Pritchard sometime between 1926 and 1930 (information courtesy of Chris Morton).
For a discussion of the technique used to manufacture this kind of object, see D. Frazer, A Guide to Weft Twining, pp. 112-113. This shield is very similar to one identified as the kube by Plaschke and Zirngibl, in African Shields, 1992. They add the comments: ' The expressively designed shields of the Zande ... were made with great care, in particular, with regard to the artistically decorated handle board... several basic variations of the Zande shields [are known]. They vary in size and in wicker design, and are regarded as the most important identification markings of the warrior. The so-called gbilija , made of particularly thin and closely woven wicker, were carried by the highest dignitaries, who kept to the rear and were never found in the forward lines during battle. In contrast, the kube, the shields of the great warriors, were always strikingly decorated. Wickerwork patterns enabled warriors at night to distinguish between friend and foe. Obscuring these identification markings in battle was punished most severely. Woven out of relatively wide strips of reed, the shield of an ordinary man, called kpawangbwada , although much less sturdy, was nevertheless very functional' (D. Plaschke and M.A. Zirngibl, 1992, African Shields, p104 onwards). Evans-Pritchard describes four types of shield: Kube, kpangbada and bazakube, from the Ambomu, and tuango borrowed from the Amiangba, but comments that other sources replace the last two terms with the terms gbiliga and gbulu (Evans-Pritchard 1971, p. 100). It is not clear where Petherick's term abrooda fits into this system, or what language it actually belongs to.
This shield is illustrated in J. & K. Petherick, 1861, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, p. 481; it is not very accurately drawn. It is also illustrated in colour as figure 257 on page 263 of The Victorian Vision: Inventing New Britain, edited by John M. MacKenzie (London: V&A Publications, 2001), with a caption reading: 'Zande shield. Basketry, Zande, Congo/Sudan. Pitt Rivers Museum, from the collection of John Petherick.' See also the section of the Shields and Objects, Anthropology and Museums website on Zande shields, which includes an image of this object on display, reproduces the 1874 catalogue entry for the item, and shows images of its front and back views - http://pittweb.prm.ox.ac.uk/Kent/misc/introset.html.
This object is currently on display in the Upper Gallery, Case 3A.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book IV entry
[p.
78] [insert] 1884.30 Nos refer to printed cat.
of weapons (L.F.) (2-figure Nos) [end insert]
DEFENCE SHIELDS
[p.
79, insert] 33 [end insert] - 68 - Large oblong-oval shield of fine wicker-work, with yellow patterns on black.
AZANDE, C.
AFRICA.
Petherick coll.
(36 black).
Additional Accession Book IV Entry [p. opposite 79] - 1884.30.33 No. given MdeA; 68 [Drawing].
Collectors Miscellaneous XI Accession Book entry [p. 193] - PETHERICK, Consul [p. 195] [insert] 1884.30.33 [end insert]. Large wicker ovate shield [Drawing] NYAM NYAM (PR 36 black [space left, no number entered]).
Black book entry [p. 2] - S[creen] 2. 36. Shield wicker. Neam Nam [sic] Negroes, C. Africa (?79a) [insert] NO, 68 [end insert].
Delivery Catalogue II entry [p. 255] - Shields from different localities. Oval wicker shield. C. Africa. 68. Upper Screen 3 [cases] 294 & 295.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 10/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Catalogue Entry (1874) [p. 7] - SCREEN 2. EAST WALL. [p. 8] PARRYING STICKS AND SHIELDS, AFRICA. [p. 9] 68. OVAL WICKER SHIELD of the Neam Nam negroes. Central Africa. "Made of reeds or the leaf of the palm tree, interwoven in patterns of black and white. It is held by the handle in rear of the centre when giving battle, the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron boomerangs (Nos. 183 to 185) [1884.25.1-3] , suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield lying directly over the handle of it; the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in the left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails the enemy. The shield, made of so light a substance, will not repel a lance, but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left, counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in the shield, furnishes him with his enemy's weapon in lieu of his own, which he is supposed to have cast." Obtained by Consul Petherick. See Royal United Service Journal, vol. iv. p. 176.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - 68. OVAL WICKER SHIELD OF THE NEAM NA [sic] NEGROES. CENTRAL AFRICA [small rectangular tag, tied to object]. LARGE SHIELD OF PALM LEAF BASKET-WORK. A LANCE W[OU]LD PENETRATE THIS, BUT WHEN STRUCK BY ONE A SLIGHT TWIST IS GIVEN TO THE SHIELD AND THIS COUNTERACTS THE PENETRATING FORCE AND ENTANGLES THE LANCE WHICH CAN BE SECURED AND USED. NIAM NIAM., CENT: AFRICA. PETHERICK COLL: P.R. 68 (36 black) [Rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 18/1/2005].
Additional Accession Book IV Entry [p. opposite 79] - 1884.30.33 No. given MdeA; 68 [Drawing].
Collectors Miscellaneous XI Accession Book entry [p. 193] - PETHERICK, Consul [p. 195] [insert] 1884.30.33 [end insert]. Large wicker ovate shield [Drawing] NYAM NYAM (PR 36 black [space left, no number entered]).
Black book entry [p. 2] - S[creen] 2. 36. Shield wicker. Neam Nam [sic] Negroes, C. Africa (?79a) [insert] NO, 68 [end insert].
Delivery Catalogue II entry [p. 255] - Shields from different localities. Oval wicker shield. C. Africa. 68. Upper Screen 3 [cases] 294 & 295.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 10/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Catalogue Entry (1874) [p. 7] - SCREEN 2. EAST WALL. [p. 8] PARRYING STICKS AND SHIELDS, AFRICA. [p. 9] 68. OVAL WICKER SHIELD of the Neam Nam negroes. Central Africa. "Made of reeds or the leaf of the palm tree, interwoven in patterns of black and white. It is held by the handle in rear of the centre when giving battle, the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron boomerangs (Nos. 183 to 185) [1884.25.1-3] , suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield lying directly over the handle of it; the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in the left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails the enemy. The shield, made of so light a substance, will not repel a lance, but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left, counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in the shield, furnishes him with his enemy's weapon in lieu of his own, which he is supposed to have cast." Obtained by Consul Petherick. See Royal United Service Journal, vol. iv. p. 176.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - 68. OVAL WICKER SHIELD OF THE NEAM NA [sic] NEGROES. CENTRAL AFRICA [small rectangular tag, tied to object]. LARGE SHIELD OF PALM LEAF BASKET-WORK. A LANCE W[OU]LD PENETRATE THIS, BUT WHEN STRUCK BY ONE A SLIGHT TWIST IS GIVEN TO THE SHIELD AND THIS COUNTERACTS THE PENETRATING FORCE AND ENTANGLES THE LANCE WHICH CAN BE SECURED AND USED. NIAM NIAM., CENT: AFRICA. PETHERICK COLL: P.R. 68 (36 black) [Rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 18/1/2005].
Display History:
Displayed in Bethnal Green and South Kensington Museums (V&A), as part of the first batch of objects sent there, probably in 1874 [AP]. Loaned to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London for the exhibition 'Inventing New Britain: The Victorian Vision', from 5 April to 29 July 2001 [JC 5/7/2000; 20/3/2001]. Current Display Label - [1995] Large palm-leaf basketry shield mostly dyed black with single central handle, used to deflect thrown spears.
Shields were carried in the left hand together with between two and four spears.
Pressed against the handle of the shield would be up to four throwing knives.
The shield was designed to protect about two-thirds of a warrior's body if he crouched it would have covered all of him.
The decoration on the shield acted as a means of group identification Collected by John Petherick 1858 [case U.3.A].
Publication History:
Catalogue of the very interesting collection of arms and implements of war, husbandry, and the chase, and articles of costume and domestic use, procured during several expeditions up the White Nile, Bahr-il-Gazal, and among the various tribes of the country, to the cannibal Neam Nam territory on the Equator, by John Petherick, Esq., H.M.
Consul, Khartoum, Soudan, p.
6 "[lot] 60.
A very fine shield of reeds and palm-tree leaf (Neam Nam) - see U.S.
Journal, fig.
19, and book [Petherick 1861], page 456".
The same shield is illustrated in J.
& K.
Petherick, 1861, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, p.
481; it is not very accurately drawn [RTS 18/1/2005]. Illustrated in colour as figure 257 on page 263 of The Victorian Vision: Inventing New Britain, edited by John M.
MacKenzie (London: V&A Publications, 2001), with a caption reading: 'Zande shield.
Basketry, Zande, Congo/Sudan.
Pitt Rivers Museum, from the collection of John Petherick.' [JC 20/3/2001]. See also the section of the Shields and Objects, Anthropology and Museums website on Zande shields, which includes an image of this object on display, reproduces the 1874 catalogue entry for the item, and shows images of its front and back views - http://pittweb.prm.ox.ac.uk/Kent/misc/introset.html [RTS 18/1/2005].
