Shield (1) Maasaï - Africa - 1990-2000

It is a Masai shield made of bovine leather from East Africa.
Made with tanned bovine leather sewn onto a wooden frame.
Traditional colors, such as red, white, and black, were obtained from local materials, including clays, plant sap, and burned pumpkin skins.
It served as an essential tool for hunting and war, offering physical and symbolic protection.
Geometric drawings, known as sirata, indicated the lineage and social status of the warrior within Maasai society.
Apart from its military use, it had a significant cultural role in rites of passage and as a symbol of identity and prestige.