Currently not on view
Shield,
20th century
More Context
Didactics
Primarily found in central and eastern Africa, the shields of warriors began as defensive weapons and evolved into ornamental objects and emblems of rank. This intricately woven wicker shield was owned by a great Zande warrior. Frequently awarded to successful troops as spoils of war, shields such as this one were prized by families as marks of honor. Virtuoso examples of graphic design and the combination of form and function, the shields’ visual impact resulted from the superb execution of complicated weaving techniques. As a practical matter, their striking and original motifs enabled identification of friend from foe during battle, particularly at night. Notable for bold geometric patterns on front and back, including the handle board, shields illustrate the presence of aesthetics in objects of regular use among the Zande and related groups. The condition of the present shield suggests that it was not heavily used in battle, but was most likely owned by a warrior or officer of high rank who was positioned in the rear during battle.
Information
20th century
Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
John B. Elliott, New York, NY; Princeton University Art Museum, 1998
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"Selected checklist of objects in the collection of African art," <em>Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University</em> 58, no. 1/2 (1999): p. 77–83., p. 80
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<p>"The checklist of the John B. Elliott Bequest," <em>Record of the Princeton University Art Museum </em>61 (2002): p. 49-99.</p>, p. 68
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<em>Princeton University Art Museum: Handbook of the Collection</em> (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2007), p. 164 (illus.)
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<em>Princeton University Art Museum: Handbook of the Collections </em>(Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Art Museum, 2013), p. 166 (illus.)
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