Maasai Shield and Spears

The shield is an oval hide piece, ochre-red in ground colour, painted with black and white geometric motifs including circles, triangles, chevrons, and a central vertical spine formed by a stitched hide ridge; the edges are whip-stitched with narrow hide strips. Two iron-headed spears are shown: one has a broad leaf-shaped blade with a raised medial ridge, a small lateral spur or lugs at the blade base, and a long tapering iron shaft showing surface rust and pitting; the second is a slender rod with a smaller elliptical open-work or solid leaf point and a plain round-section shaft, also with oxidation and surface wear throughout. Both shafts appear to be all-iron construction with no visible wooden hafting.

Condition

Shield surface paint shows cracking and partial loss; hide appears dry with some distortion at edges. Both spear shafts exhibit moderate to heavy surface rust and pitting with no active flaking noted in photographs.

Category

MILITARY AND COLLECTABLES

Delivery

Local pickup only