Ethiopian Amharic shield

[Changdao]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Another item recently 'excavated' as I go through things, I have had for over 20 years but know little beyond the description noted. If I understand correctly these were primarily 'dress' type shields and status oriented and Amharic.
Any ideas on how this one might be dated?

Again, need the help of those of you specializing in these kinds of Ethiopian arms.

Anybody have photos of these in use?

Thank you guys,
Jim

On the contrary, these were not just "dress" shields but used for war, at least back into the 19th century and beyond. Within the chewa warrior system of Ethiopia, there was a prideful culture of display and trophy taking, so that a warrior would ascend to the ranks ideally to dejazmach. A dejazmach was the rank inmediately under ras or king, and could lead military expeditions and command divisions of the army when leading under a ras or even the emperor.

There were two types of dejazmach: yewech dejazmach and balenegarit dejazmach. The latter were more senior, fewer in number, and were allowed to use and display the gold regalia including on shields that ras and above also used. The former, which were the majority, were allowed to use silver regalia, including shields with silver bands arranged in a pattern like in OP's shield.

My source here is Ethiopian Warriorhood: Defence, Land and Society 1800–1941 by Tsehai Berhane-Selassie