Ethiopian Shield-Form Ornamental Disc

Mossy hints of green on the rim, with a peg and four neat holes.

This shield-form ornamental brass disc is from Omo Valley, Ethiopia, East Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Ethiopia's Omo Valley is home to a number of distinct peoples with their own languages and customs, and each has developed its own styles of jewelry and personal decoration. Round plate in coppery brown with a conical central peg and four holes spread around the sides. Faint green deposits touch the upper edge, and a beaded line of tiny dots follows the rim. The surface is softly scuffed. It is 0.75 inches deep and 4.25 in diameter.

A touch of green gives it a very distinguished air.