Zande shield
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1902.9.12
Country:
Congo, Democratic Republic of? , Central African Republic? , Congo, People's Republic of?
Cultural Group:
Zande?
Date Made:
By 1892?
Materials:
Wood Plant , Cane Plant
Process:
Wicker Woven? , Basketry , Dyed , Decorated , Wound
Dimensions:
L = 1426 mm, W = 262 mm, th at edge = 12 mm, L of handgrip surround = 458 mm, W of handgrip surround = 91 mm, opening for handgrip = 26 by 83 mm. [ZM 4/1/2006]
Weight:
> 1000 g
Other Owners:
Collected by A. Billington of the American Baptist Missionary Union in Congo, given to William Allan on 13th June 1892, donated to PRM on 1st February 1902
Field Collector:
A. Billington
PRM Source:
William Allan
Acquired:
Donated 1902
Collected Date:
by 1892?
Description:
Narrow wicker shield, consisting of a frame, made from a round sectioned wooden rod bent into an elongated oval, with two long rods acting as struts running down the length of the central part of the body.
These central rods extend for the entire length of the shield, but have been cut at their upper and lower ends so that only a narrow rectangular strip - the underside of each rod - remains.
The ends of each of these strips has been further split, and the 6 narrow fibrous pieces thus produced have been wound around the the outside frame and into its covering binding at top and bottom of the shield to hold them in place.
Between this outer frame and vertical inner struts, the body of the shield is made up from a series of narrow cane strips - forming a lattice in two parts - at the front and back of the shield - with each part set at right angles to one another.
On the front, these run primarily in closely spaced horizontal rows - each length split at the ends and bound around the outer frame in the method just described.
At the top and base of the shield there is a semi circular area formed by the curving outer frame; here the strips have been arranged as a series of concentric semicircles, following this outer shape.
At the centre of this, there is a small section of 6 rows where the strips are horizontal again, and appear to be very short.
Just below this is a group of 8 horizontal strips that run fully across the shield face, passing over the half sectioned strip ends of each vertical strut.
The main part of the shield body lies between these two parts, and is formed of similar horizontal strips that run below the underside of these vertical struts.
Each strip has been tied to its neighbour with thin, narrow, flat yellowish brown lengths of cane.
The style of binding varies across the surface, being loose and obliquely placed around the semi circular body strips - but tightly bound in a band that runs down the centre of this part.
At its base, there are two to three rows of horizontal cane 'stitching', then a series of widely spaced oblique bindings - running in the opposite direction to the group above, but with a similar tightly bound section at the centre, continuing the design.
The main body area below has similar loose stitching, but this time it is arranged as groups of oblique stitches that alternate from left to right in a regular pattern running down the length of the body.
Essentially, the surface of the shield has been turned into a highly patterned design by the use of two different colours of strips - either in the natural yellowish brown colour of the cane, or dyed a darker brown colour for contrast.
The narrower binding strips that hold these elements together are also two coloured, and the binding itself forms regular patterns across the surface.
Collected by A. Billington of the American Baptist Missionary Union in Congo, given to William Allan on 13th June 1892, donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum on 1st February 1902.
Petherick describes the Zande shield as follows: 'The Neam Nam ... shield is made of reeds, or the leaf of the palm-tree, interwoven in tasteful patterns of variegated colours .... When giving battle the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron missiles [i.e.: throwing knives] … suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield, lying directly over the handle of it, the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in his left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails his enemy … The shield made of so light a substance will not repel a lance but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in it furnishes him with his enemy's weapons in lieu of his own which he is supposed to have cast.' (J. Petherick, 1860, 'On the arms of the Arab and Negro Tribes of Central Africa, bordering on the White Nile', Journal of the Royal United Services Institution IV no. 13, p. 176). Further descriptions are published in his 1861 publication, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, 'Their arms consist of ... a large oblong shield, formed of closely woven matting, composed of several patterns, and dyed with many colours. In the centre of the interior is a wooden handle …' (p. 469); Petherick goes on to list the Zande term for shield as abrooda (p. 481). See also J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa, p. 280-281.
Evans-Pritchard comments that 'the bearing of shields seems to have been forbidden by the British Administration soon after its occupation [in 1905], so that, except for a few old ones preserved out of sentiment, they were no longer to be seen in the 1920's, though there were craftsmen who could still make them' (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande , p. 100).
For photographs of Zande warriors demonstrating the use of wickerwork shields, see Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande, plate IV, and several unpublished images in the PRM photographic archives: 1998.341.1, 1998.341.12, 1998.341.45-48, 1998.341.113, 1998.341.243, 1998.341.311, 1998.341.345, 1998.341.359, 1998.341.363, 1998.341.367, 1998.341.394, 1998.341.402, 1998.341.423, 1998.341.764-766; for images of a Zande craftsmen called Mamenze weaving a wickerwork shield, see 1998.341.63 and 1998.341.152. These images were taken by Evans-Pritchard sometime between 1926 and 1930 (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2005).
This shield is Illustrated with a line drawing in the leaflet 'Basketry in The Pitt Rivers Museum', devised by Felicity Wood with the Oxfordshire Basketmakers, 2001. It is also featured on the website http://basket.prm.ox.ac.uk/
On display in the Upper Gallery, case 3A number 8.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Collected by A. Billington of the American Baptist Missionary Union in Congo, given to William Allan on 13th June 1892, donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum on 1st February 1902.
Petherick describes the Zande shield as follows: 'The Neam Nam ... shield is made of reeds, or the leaf of the palm-tree, interwoven in tasteful patterns of variegated colours .... When giving battle the Neam Nam has two or three of the iron missiles [i.e.: throwing knives] … suspended by a leather button to the inside of the shield, lying directly over the handle of it, the whole of which and a couple of lances he grasps in his left hand, whilst with a lance in the right hand he assails his enemy … The shield made of so light a substance will not repel a lance but when struck by one, the combatant giving a slight movement either to the right or left counteracts the penetration of the lance, which becoming entangled and suspended in it furnishes him with his enemy's weapons in lieu of his own which he is supposed to have cast.' (J. Petherick, 1860, 'On the arms of the Arab and Negro Tribes of Central Africa, bordering on the White Nile', Journal of the Royal United Services Institution IV no. 13, p. 176). Further descriptions are published in his 1861 publication, Egypt the Soudan and Central Africa, 'Their arms consist of ... a large oblong shield, formed of closely woven matting, composed of several patterns, and dyed with many colours. In the centre of the interior is a wooden handle …' (p. 469); Petherick goes on to list the Zande term for shield as abrooda (p. 481). See also J. & K. Petherick, 1869, Travels in Central Africa, p. 280-281.
Evans-Pritchard comments that 'the bearing of shields seems to have been forbidden by the British Administration soon after its occupation [in 1905], so that, except for a few old ones preserved out of sentiment, they were no longer to be seen in the 1920's, though there were craftsmen who could still make them' (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande , p. 100).
For photographs of Zande warriors demonstrating the use of wickerwork shields, see Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande, plate IV, and several unpublished images in the PRM photographic archives: 1998.341.1, 1998.341.12, 1998.341.45-48, 1998.341.113, 1998.341.243, 1998.341.311, 1998.341.345, 1998.341.359, 1998.341.363, 1998.341.367, 1998.341.394, 1998.341.402, 1998.341.423, 1998.341.764-766; for images of a Zande craftsmen called Mamenze weaving a wickerwork shield, see 1998.341.63 and 1998.341.152. These images were taken by Evans-Pritchard sometime between 1926 and 1930 (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2005).
This shield is Illustrated with a line drawing in the leaflet 'Basketry in The Pitt Rivers Museum', devised by Felicity Wood with the Oxfordshire Basketmakers, 2001. It is also featured on the website http://basket.prm.ox.ac.uk/
On display in the Upper Gallery, case 3A number 8.
Rachael Sparks 30/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[III, p.
68] - 1902 [pencil insert] 9 [end insert]
REV.
W.
ALLAN
D.D.
From E.
Central Africa (Equatorial): collected by Mr.
A.
Billington.
[...] [pencil insert] 12 [end insert] - Long wicker shield, Upper Congo (Equator).
Additional accession book entry [page opposite 68] - See Related documents file for this collection. 12) Parallel sides, curved ends. Wooden grip lashed w. fibre cord. AZANDE type. Characteristic pattern in black. L. 4’ 8 1/4, width (centre) 10 1/2”. 1902.9.12 No. given MdeA.
Card Catalogue Entry - EQUATORIAL AFRICA, UPPER CONGO (EQUATOR) AZANDE type. Long wicker shield, parallel sides, curved ends. Characteristic pattern in black and natural in panel down centre. Wooden grip lashed on with fibre cord, served with cane strip. Length 4'8 1/4 ", width (centre) 10 1/2 ". Coll. Mr A. Billington, d.d. Rev. W. Allan, D.D., 1902. Identified by Prof. Evans-Pritchard.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - dd Rev. Allan 1902 [pencil] C [blue pencil, repeated on back of tag; tied to object]; AFRICA, ZAIRE, HAUT ZAIRE, AZANDE. Wicker Shield. Don Rev. W. Allen, 1902.9.12 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 26/7/2004].
Written on object - UPPER CONGO (ON THE EQUATOR). Pres. by Rev. W. ALLAN, dd 1902. Coll. by Mr A. Billington. AZANDE type [RTS 26/7/2004].
Related Documents File - There is extensive correspondence from Reverend W. Allen regarding the specific details of most of the objects in his donated collection, begining 6 January 1901. He also forwarded various letters from other missionaries which gave further detail or corroborated his information; a letter from A. Billington to Allan, dated 13th June 1892 probably refers to object 1902.9.12: "Please accept the following ... 1 shield from Equator Upper Congo" [RTS 8/12/2003]. It is mentioned again in a letter to the musuem dated 17th January 1901: "I have also a shield & a spear from the Congo". Allan's reason for donating his collection to the museum is given later in the same letter: "I should not have parted with any of these things in my life time, (indeed I have been urged to part with some of them, but I would not hear of doing so) but I am about to resign my living, and in consequence of my wife’s total blindness, I am not likely to have another settled home, and I am therefore parting with almost everything".
Additional accession book entry [page opposite 68] - See Related documents file for this collection. 12) Parallel sides, curved ends. Wooden grip lashed w. fibre cord. AZANDE type. Characteristic pattern in black. L. 4’ 8 1/4, width (centre) 10 1/2”. 1902.9.12 No. given MdeA.
Card Catalogue Entry - EQUATORIAL AFRICA, UPPER CONGO (EQUATOR) AZANDE type. Long wicker shield, parallel sides, curved ends. Characteristic pattern in black and natural in panel down centre. Wooden grip lashed on with fibre cord, served with cane strip. Length 4'8 1/4 ", width (centre) 10 1/2 ". Coll. Mr A. Billington, d.d. Rev. W. Allan, D.D., 1902. Identified by Prof. Evans-Pritchard.
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - dd Rev. Allan 1902 [pencil] C [blue pencil, repeated on back of tag; tied to object]; AFRICA, ZAIRE, HAUT ZAIRE, AZANDE. Wicker Shield. Don Rev. W. Allen, 1902.9.12 [plastic label with metal eyelet, tied to object; RTS 26/7/2004].
Written on object - UPPER CONGO (ON THE EQUATOR). Pres. by Rev. W. ALLAN, dd 1902. Coll. by Mr A. Billington. AZANDE type [RTS 26/7/2004].
Related Documents File - There is extensive correspondence from Reverend W. Allen regarding the specific details of most of the objects in his donated collection, begining 6 January 1901. He also forwarded various letters from other missionaries which gave further detail or corroborated his information; a letter from A. Billington to Allan, dated 13th June 1892 probably refers to object 1902.9.12: "Please accept the following ... 1 shield from Equator Upper Congo" [RTS 8/12/2003]. It is mentioned again in a letter to the musuem dated 17th January 1901: "I have also a shield & a spear from the Congo". Allan's reason for donating his collection to the museum is given later in the same letter: "I should not have parted with any of these things in my life time, (indeed I have been urged to part with some of them, but I would not hear of doing so) but I am about to resign my living, and in consequence of my wife’s total blindness, I am not likely to have another settled home, and I am therefore parting with almost everything".
Publication History:
Illustrated with a line drawing in the leaflet 'Basketry in The Pitt Rivers Museum', devised by Felicity Wood with the Oxfordshire Basketmakers, 2001.
It is also featured on the website http://basket.prm.ox.ac.uk/ [JN 14/11/2001].
