An interesting and characterful Zulu war-shield, probably dating to the end of the nineteenth century. The stick is particularly distinctive, and may be of Tsonga manufacture (the Tsonga chiefdoms north of the Lebombo mountains were subjects of the Zulu kingdom at that time); the stick has a finely worked decoration in characteristic 'Amasumpa’ style, and also has several sections of metal wire and metal binding at the base. The shield has some old rodent damage but remains a very striking piece. Stick is 56 ins long, shield is 30 x 22 ins.
