Rare and ancient used Maasai shield, from the Kisongo group of northern Tanzania. Diameter: 77 cm high and 47 wide. This shield is from mid 20th century and purchased in my private collection in 2007, with a certificate of authenticity. The size suggests a Moran initiation shield. On the inside, on the lower left side, a characteristic patina is visible, left by repeated rubbing of the forearm, testifying to the shield's actual use. Pigments, texture, and wood are as they should be, likely made of cowhide. Formerly a private collection of a collector from Belgium. Pastoralist Maasai from the grasslands of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania used such shields in warfare, hunting, and rites of passage. A buffalo hide sewn onto a wooden frame is the convex elliptical canvas onto which an artist traced rich polychrome geometric patterns: two large crescents symmetrically positioned on either side of a central vertical band composed of alternating triangles. The motifs identified the owner's position within a complex lineage system. Called sirata, many of these symbolic motifs have fallen into disuse and are poorly understood by contemporary Maasai. Several elements relate this shield to a proven warrior herder. This prestigious sign is conferred only with the permission of a high-ranking chief.