Bidspirit auction | Nguni Style Cowhide Shield and

Nguni Style Cowhide Shield and Integrated Spear - This lot features a traditional South African Nguni-style shield crafted from a single piece of brindled brown and tan cowhide with the natural hair intact. The shield has an oval shape and incorporates two vertical rows of horizontal slits where contrasting hide strips are woven to secure a central wooden staff. An iron spearhead is integrated at the top of the staff, displaying a tapered leaf-shaped blade and a neck wrapped in hide or fiber. The reverse reveals the untreated underside of the hide and the wooden handle and support structure. The construction methods reflect traditional Zulu or Swazi designs, while the overall scale and finish indicate a mid-20th-century production for ceremonial or decorative purposes. No maker marks, signatures, or labels are visible on the item.