Gãschãn Shield — The Mansfield Collection

Gãschãn Shield

Gãschãn Shield
Dervish Somali
Dervish Kingdom - Darawiish - British Somaliland - Italian Somaliland (Somaliland - Puntland - Somalia)
First quarter of the 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1925)
Hide
Diameter: 33,3cm
Height: 33,3cm
Thickness: 10,2cm
Collection Date: 2026
Collection Number: 509

Ex. American Art Market (2026)

A very good war shield used by the Somali clans of Somaliland into Somalia. The shield is crafted from dried and hardened hide from oryx, hippopotamus, or giraffe skin. Circular in form with a thickened rim. The shield is entirely decorated in concentric incised motif patterns and short lines, the center having a domed boss. On the reverse, the hide handle is also incised with linear patterns. A very good Somali war shield from the early 20th century Dervish war period.

Photograph 12: A postcard of a Somali warrior, 1908. Published Catholic Mission of Somaliland 25.
Photograph 13: A postcard of a Somali warior in Dire Dawa, early 20th century.

[1] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/211242

‍[2] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/115428

‍[3] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/155136

‍[4] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-164203

‍[5] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-116694

‍[6] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-5004

‍[7] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1978-22-676

‍[8] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1979-01-5005

‍[9] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1911-26

‍[10] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af-4367

‍[11] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1911-26?selectedImageId=1252745001

‍[12] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1978-22-677