Rare 'Ngabo' shield type of the Songye people, from southcentral Congo. Carved from a single piece of light-coloured wood, dyed white, black and red. In the upper and lower sections semicircular, in the central segment retracted left and right. A mask head in the middle. This relief head displays a rare mask type of the Songye people, and is visibly related to the Kifwebe masks through its grooved decoration. Probably from a border region of the Luba tribes surrounding the territory of the Songye in the south (see a comparable item for this mask type in the Dorotheum catalogue 'Stammeskunst/Tribal Art' of 28 March 2013, cat. no. 67). The remaining surface of the shield is carved in deep, geometrical relief on its front side. The horizontal centre stripe features black spikes in relief pointing towards the mask, on white ground. The surfaces in the upper and lower sections are arranged in 5 vertical rows of overlapping circular segments. 12 horizontal rows, in alternating red and white colours (obtained from powdered redwood and kaolin). The circular segments are symbolic representations of the sun and moon. The back of the shield is smooth, the handle is manufactured from the same wood. The Songye people did not normally use these elaborately decorated shields in battle; rather, they donated them as presents between tribal chiefs as a sign of political and military alliance. The present shield displays good patina (especially on the handle at the back) and minor age damage: scuffed colours, some pieces broken off on the edges in the upper and lower sections, as well as on the back. Dimensions: H: 106 cm, B: 48-42 cm (middle). Mask head: H: 20 cm, W: 12 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: English collection, passed down within the family by inheritance.

Literature: ‘Shields. From the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum’ by Benitez & Barbier, cover image (jacket), ill.: p. 88, photo no. 41, p. 89, item no. 27; ‘Panga na visu’ by Zirngibl & Kubetz, ill. 548.

Additional photo:
Warrior with a stylistically comparable shield.
Photo from ‘Shields’ by Benitez & Barbier