Masai - 220953 - Large 80 cm - Antique Extremely RARE Massai shield - Tanzania - Sold
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- Description
- Masai
| Type of artwork | Ethnographic art |
| Period | 1900 to 1944 |
| Technique | Other |
| Style | African |
| Subject | Shield |
| Dimensions | 80 x 41 x 0 cm (h x w x d) |
Translated with Google Translate. Original text show .
Extremely rare Heavy Antique Massai shield with decorations, more then 100 years old
Height: 80 cm high and collected in 1921 from an Belgium collector.
Pastoralist Maasai from the grasslands of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania used such shields in warfare, hunting, and rites of passage.
A buffalo hide sewn onto a wooden frame is the convex elliptical canvas onto which an artist traced rich polychrome geometric patterns: two large crescents symmetrically positioned on either side of a central vertical band composed of alternating triangles. The motifs identified the owner's position within a complex lineage system.
Called sirata, many of these symbolic motifs have fallen into disuse and are poorly understood by contemporary Maasai. Several elements relate this shield to a proven warrior herder.
This prestigious sign is conferred only with the permission of a high-ranking chief.
Height: 80 cm high and collected in 1921 from an Belgium collector.
Pastoralist Maasai from the grasslands of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania used such shields in warfare, hunting, and rites of passage.
A buffalo hide sewn onto a wooden frame is the convex elliptical canvas onto which an artist traced rich polychrome geometric patterns: two large crescents symmetrically positioned on either side of a central vertical band composed of alternating triangles. The motifs identified the owner's position within a complex lineage system.
Called sirata, many of these symbolic motifs have fallen into disuse and are poorly understood by contemporary Maasai. Several elements relate this shield to a proven warrior herder.
This prestigious sign is conferred only with the permission of a high-ranking chief.
| Condition | |||||||||
| Condition | Very good | ||||||||
| Shipment | |||||||||
| Pick up | The work can be picked up on location. As a buyer you must bring your own packaging materials. The location is: Hengelo, The Netherlands | ||||||||
| Shipment | Parcel post | ||||||||
| Price | Up to 10 kg.
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| Guarantee | |||||||||
| Guarantee | By putting the item up for auction, I agree with the Terms of Guarantee as they are applicable at Kunstveiling regarding the accuracy of the description of the item | ||||||||
The seller takes full responsibility for this item. Kunstveiling only provides the platform to facilitate this transaction, which has to be settled directly with the seller. More information .