Monday, October 11, 2010

A shield to express power

When emperor Haile Selassie visited the Netherlands in 1954, he gave a shield to the mayor of Amsterdam.

Object of the month
 Such a shield is used to express status and power; a servant holds the shield high behind a warlord to strengthen his arguments during important discussions. This Ethiopian shield is made of leather over a wooden frame and it is embellished with red velvet and gold coloured metal.

Red symbolises in Ethiopia love and, the blood shed in the defence of the country. The colour red is the subject of an exhibition that will open at the Tropenmuseum on November 5.
Thanks,
     GerardM

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