Help identify this African Shield

I found this at a local thrift store feel like real animal fur I’m looking for any information I can find . Thank you in advance for taking the time.

 

It's an African Maasai shield, from Kenya. based on the construction and design patterns. You didn't give the dimensions, so we'll assume it is smaller than the actual ones used tribally, designed for the tourist market.

They were originally made from water buffalo hide, but tourist pieces are often made from cattle or goat hides.

Shields are an important part of the Maasai culture, and were used both in warfare and hunting, as well as objects of identification and art...so they are popular souvenir items, symbolic of the tribe.

 

Massai tourist shield, missing the weapons that come with it....

 

https://www.hamillgallery.com/MAASAI/MaasaiShields/MaasaiShields.html

 

Thank you

 

It’s measures 24” top to bottom and 17” across

 

like those in my link.....but with extra straps for weapons display..

 

As suspected, it was made for the tourist trade.

The ones actually used by the tribe were commonly 3-4 feet long, and almost all are now in museum collections, or owned by early collectors who were lucky enough to acquire them when the Maasai were selling off their real ones.

 

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the time