Shield found in Japan

[estcrh]

This shield according to the owner was found in 1995 in the province of Wakayama and since the Japanese made very little use of shields it could have come from a surrounding country or from a trading partner, any ideas?

[Marius]

I am not exactly a specialist in shields, but I am pretty sure it is NOT Japanese and it is NOT old. Actually, it looks like a tourist souvenir made yesterday. Just my unqualified opinion....

[sensei215]

Could you please post or send me more photos especially of the whole back of the shield and close ups of the rivets and screws. Is there any leather or cloth still attached. I have a bit of experience with armour and maybe able to identify it.

 

Tim S

[sensei215]

Measurements would help also. What is the diameter amd how thick is the metal?

 

Tim S

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

close ups of the rivets and screws.

 

Reminds a Jaipur Dhal, but :? :?

[Iekatsu]

I agree entirely with Mariusz.

[estcrh]

Measurements would help also. What is the diameter amd how thick is the metal?

 

Tim S

Tim, here is some more info and 2 more pictures, "superb battle shield made of multi layer with center spike and jingasa design , forged rivet and hammered iron ,the inside leather holder is gone .58cmin diameter"

[estcrh]

Could you please post or send me more photos especially of the whole back of the shield and close ups of the rivets and screws. Is there any leather or cloth still attached. I have a bit of experience with armour and maybe able to identify it.

 

Tim S

Tim, you can see a little piece of leather on the first set of pictures, it looks like were a hand strap would have been.

[estcrh]

close ups of the rivets and screws.

 

Reminds a Jaipur Dhal, but :? :?

Similar, but different at the same time.

[IanB]

All, It is I'm afraid it is not a real shield. Dhals have four bossed grouped around the centre for the two loop handles on the back - sometimes with a crescent off towards the top if the user was Muslim. European shields also have similar loops / rivets etc towards the centre for the grips or enarmes and others offset for the guige strap which went around the shoulder. There were also fake shields made in Europe which were carried in parades by a page, but these are usually very ornate. The rivets around the edge should be for the lining strap. You will notice that only one retains a trace of leather, still quite fresh, presumably to hang it on the wall.

Ian Bottomley

[estcrh]

All, It is I'm afraid it is not a real shield. Dhals have four bossed grouped around the centre for the two loop handles on the back - sometimes with a crescent off towards the top if the user was Muslim. European shields also have similar loops / rivets etc towards the centre for the grips or enarmes and others offset for the guige strap which went around the shoulder. There were also fake shields made in Europe which were carried in parades by a page, but these are usually very ornate. The rivets around the edge should be for the lining strap. You will notice that only one retains a trace of leather, still quite fresh, presumably to hang it on the wall.

Ian Bottomley

I agree that the owner has an expensive wall decoration, I have not seen another one with like it or hand hold with the same arrangement.

[sensei215]

I have to agree with everyone else. It was more then probably made for a theatrical prop or as a wall hanger.

 

Best regards,

 

Tim

[IanB]

All, There once was a genuine Japanese shield, or really a pavise, in the Royal armouries collection. Although I never saw it (it was disposed of during a period of madness when the museum was raising money to buy a great helm), I did trace it to the US. It consisted of a number of large plates, laced together like a giant sode, and fitted with a bar at the back that held it open. From what I can gather the lacing was pretty shot and at that time there was little hope of getting any replacement. It was sold in a London sale, bought by a dealer who sold it to a US buyer. Where it is now is unknown, but it would be interesting to know. I have never seen nor heard of anything similar.

Ian Bottomley

[estcrh]

All, There once was a genuine Japanese shield, or really a pavise, in the Royal armouries collection. Although I never saw it (it was disposed of during a period of madness when the museum was raising money to buy a great helm), I did trace it to the US. It consisted of a number of large plates, laced together like a giant sode, and fitted with a bar at the back that held it open. From what I can gather the lacing was pretty shot and at that time there was little hope of getting any replacement. It was sold in a London sale, bought by a dealer who sold it to a US buyer. Where it is now is unknown, but it would be interesting to know. I have never seen nor heard of anything similar.

Ian Bottomley

Who ever ends up with it some day will probably have no idea how rare an item it is, what a shame..and no pictures...thats why I try to take a lot of photos of every item I have.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

All, There once was a genuine Japanese shield,

 

Intetresting. Seems you're suggesting is not ht pavise for sieges or to put on the terrain to

protecd a couplke or more men, rather one similar as the one pictured in Suenaga's book.

But what I've in mind are very early and rare items.

 

Dimensions for one man only ?