An ancient polychrome shield made from different pieces of palm wood (chosen for its lightness) and placed horizontally, with a handle placed in the center and carved from a harder wood, then tied together with raffia and leather on the outside as found in northeastern Congo in Mongo country. See : Boucliers d'Afrique, d'Asie du Sud-Est et d'Océanie du Musée Barbier Mueller, 1998, p. 70 Ekonda or Topoke, Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, plant fibers, native metal restoration, pigment, accidents, old collection number (M.H. 2/81), very fine old oxidation, old patina. H. 97.5 cm Provenance : David Henrion Collection, Brussels