Water buffalo hide, wood, natural and commercial pigments
Tanzania or Kenya, middle of the 20th C.
Maasai People – the semi-nomadic people of the African Great Lakes region
Characteristic oval form with integral grip and coiled hide
Geometric and organic 'Sirata' motif
Evidence of use by repaired spear puncture
Dimensions: 43” x 23” x 8” (height x width x depth)
Provenance New York private collection, received as gift from a tribal leader

This is a characteristic Maasai form shield made from water buffalo hide, wood, and natural pigments. It’s integral grip form and edges are tightly bound in coils of hide. The obverse is painted in organic and commercial pigments in geometric patterns of white, dark blue, black, and red.

This shield shows signs of real use with a repaired puncture along one edge and overall surface ware to the pigments. The style and condition of the shield suggest a mid-20th century date.

The Maasai People

The Maasai people are a major ethnic group of southern Kenya and northwest Tanzania. Known for their distinct customs and dress, their battle shields have become famous in the canon of African art. Each Maasai village has its own unique shield designs or 'sirata', which they would paint on their shields to receive protection from ancestors.