Ethiopian Shield-Form Ornamental Disc

Flattened oval plate with seven dents and two little holes at its edge.

This shield-form ornamental disc is from Omo Valley, Ethiopia, East Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is brass. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and in East Africa it has long been worked into bracelets, discs and other items of personal adornment. Roughly round, thin plate with an uneven outline, hammered into seven low rounded bumps spread across its face. Two small holes pierce near the lower right edge. The surface is mottled red, brown and green. It is 0.2 inches deep and 5 in diameter.

Hammered and dimpled into shape, a bit lopsided and proud.