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Peter Petrou
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Mambila Shield
( Cameroons
19th century
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Medium
Palm Fibre and Wood
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Dimensions
94.00cm wide
114.00cm high
(37.01 inches wide 44.88 inches high)
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Provenance
Brought back by a Colonial administrator to West and Central Africa between 1928 and 1951.
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Literature:
Shields Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania from the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, pub. New York, 2000
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Description / Expertise
This convex, oval shield or Kor is constructed with a double frame of vertical and horizontal supports reinforced down the centre with two 1 1/2 inch (3.75 cm) wooden strips both on the front and back. The kor is tightly woven with natural palm fibre incorporating a darker natural dyed pattern of criss-cross parallel lines and the edges are reinforced with tightly woven reeds. Both the top and bottom of the shield are semi-circular which afforded the user a better view, more freedom of movement and greater flexibility with his weapons.
The name Mambila means men and was given to the tribe, who call themselves Nor, by the Fulani who in the late 19th century raided the Mambila Plateau for slaves as did the Chamba before them.They also took shields as trophies and to trade with neighbouring tribes.
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