Ethiopian Shield
Oromo / Amhara / Dorse
Oromia, Ethiopian Empire ( Ethiopia)
Ca. 1900
Leather (hippopotamus?)
Diameter: 42cm
Collection Date: 2023
Collection Number 322

Ethiopian shield associated with the Oromo People of Ethiopia. Similar shields are used by the Amhara and Dorse. This one is the typical example of dark brown leather coloration, likely of hippopotamus, or which could also be buffalo hide. The shield is conical in shape with tooled triangular and linear incision decoration. Thick bulbous outside rim with a hide interior handle. Dating to around the turn of the 20th century.

• Nickel, Helmut. “Arms and Armor in Africa”. 1971. Page 36

• http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28240

• https://oriental-arms.com/product/very-good-amhara-leather-shield/

• http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=676

• http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3510

• http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=589

• http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4179

• https://ertribal.com/index.php/tribal-art/shields/embossed-and-incised-leather-shield-dorse-sidamo-ethiopia

• https://ertribal.com/index.php/tribal-art/shields/embossed-and-incised-leather-shield-sidamo-shoa-oromo-ethiopia

• https://www.africanarms.com/gallery?amhara-silver-plated-prestige-shield

• https://www.africanarms.com/gallery?oromo-sidamo-58-cm

• https://www.africanarms.com/gallery?dorse-sidamo-46-cm

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1912-0410-29

• https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1913-0616-53

• https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/72511

• https://www.amazigh.it/shop/antique-shield-amhara-sidamo-ethiopia/