elephant ear shield, unrecorded Maasai artist

Artwork Overview

unrecorded Maasai artist, elephant ear shield
unrecorded Maasai artist
late 1800s–1968
elephant ear shield, late 1800s–1968
Where object was made: Kenya
Material/technique: plant; elephant ear hide; wood; hide
Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 77 x 51 x 10.5 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 30 5/16 x 20 1/16 x 4 1/8 in
Credit line: Gift of Karen Sueetta Joyce
Accession number: 2007.3189
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

archive label, 16 February 1989: A Maasai warrior often carries a shield made from an elephant earlobe. The bosses, or bumps, are pushed out from underneath before it dries. Spear points are deflected and glance off the tough surface of the shield.