Fighting Shield

Dance Shield

Bride Price Valuable

Shield used in fighting, dancing and as part of a bride price. Native name - La Galiao. Wood. Rectangular. Knob at center on face; handles on center back. Painted black, red and white. Carved decoration: on face, four vertical and one horizontal oval enclosing areas bound by straight and curved lines, some dentate (extremely stylized faces?); on reverse, series of diamonds separated by the hand grip from a series of concentric ovals. When eyes appear they are called "eyes of the ancestors."