Oryx Hide Somali Shield – Gãschãn – East Africa

19th century.  Bleached and incised oryx leather. Diameter cm. 36,5 (14.37″).

The hide is incised with geometric patterns.

Somali Shield

Somali warriors carried an iron spear, a short sword called a belawa, and a shield called a gãschãn. Typical small Somali shields are made from giraffe or oryx and are concealed with concentric circles and short parallel lines.

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