Early 20th Century Hand Crafted Tribal Tourist Piece Zulu Warrior’s Ingubha (Cow Hide) Umbumbuluzo Small War Shield With Removable Staff, Assegai Stabbing Spear & Knobkerry War Club Also Additional Assegai & Knobkerrie With Decorative Bead Work - 17840: Early 20th Century Hand Crafted Tribal Tourist Piece Zulu Warrior’s Ingubha (Cow Hide) Umbumbuluzo Small War Shield With Removable Staff, Assegai Stabbing Spear & Knobkerry War Club Also Additional Assegai & Knobkerrie With Decorative Bead Work - 17840: Other Accessory

A cow-hide shield is known as ingubha in Zulu. Large (ihubelo) War shields measured between 5 and 6 Feet & were made of raw cattle hide. The umbumbuluzo was a smaller war shield up to 3½ feet in length. War shields, which were more than mere commodities for physical protection also acted as status symbols or Coat of Arms for a family or tribe. This is an early 20th century Zulu umbumbuluzo Ingubha small war shield, hand made in Africa by tribal blacksmiths for the European tourist trade who were then still fascinated by the Zulu wars of the 1870’s. The typical form Cow Hide shield measures 35” length x 18” width. The centre length of the shield has inserted sections of hide to create strength and originally to identify a family or tribe. The rear has leather cord which holds its turned wood staff / shaft which originally acted both as a staff for foraging and fighting and when inserted, as a handle for the shield. The staff measures 4 Feet 7 Inches length. The top of the staff has a cow hide with fur totem. The knobkerrie attached to the shield by leather ties is 36” length with typical bulbous head. The Assegai attached to the shield by leather ties measures 37” length. It has a section of stitched cow hide with fur beneath the 6 ½” typical form leaf shaped iron blade. The blade has staining and light areas of surface rust to be expected. The assegai shaft and staff have cut sections in their centres to allow them to fit neatly together for display. The separate Assegai measures 39” overall length. The stained wood shaft has a section of colourful Native handcrafted beadwork, and a section of stitched cow hide with fur beneath its 8” crudely hand forged blackened iron leaf shaped blade which is sharp. The separate knobkerrie measures 32” overall length with typical bulbous head. The stained wood shaft has a section of colourful Native handcrafted beadwork and 2 sections of stitched cow hide. Included is a small 3” bracket for wall hanging which came with display and 2 small screws which fit 2 pre-drilled holes in the top section of the shield’s staff. The price for this piece which would make a great addition to any ethnic or Zulu war collection includes UK delivery. Sn 17840:1