Bespoke Shields

A place for info, and the like about pre-medieval battle shields...and maybe ancient stuff in general.

[battleshields]

I can't recommed enough that all humans read this book. All that's on my mind now is how we can redefine power!

[battleshields]

Skinny ring at 5mm width made from exotic Moabi (aka African Pear) with a local Birch lining. Moabi wood comes from equitorial Africa and has a superb crushing strength, perfect for rings. #bespokeshields #bentwoodring #ring #jewellery #wooden #wood #moabi #africanpear #birch #exotic #skinny #skinnyring #weddingring #engagmentring

[battleshields]

A finished custom order ring for a special someone. An aquatic themed engagement ring made from ancient bog oak, with a 'mosaic' style mother of pearl inlay and an opal cabochon set into a 14ct gold bezel. The opal stone looks like a mini planet earth. #bespokeshields #bentwoodring #jewellery #wood #wooden #bogoak #motherofpearl #opal #14ctgold #gold #mosaic #custom #engagementring #weddingring #cabochon #bezel #fossil #black #earth #planet

[battleshields]

Mid stage ring looks like a tyre on a wooden frame. Anyone like tyre rings? #bespokeshields #bentwoodring #ebony #wooden #wood #mahogany #weddingring #engagmentring #chunky #tyre #cartyre

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I found myself doing a bit of archaeology at work today. I found a clay tobacco pipe while digging in someone's flower bed in Camden. I've got no idea what date it was made apart from between 1600 - 1900. It has no makers mark, but the bowl has a distinct waist shape and a slightly chipped stubby spur. Anyone know more? #claytobaccopipe #tobacco #archaeology #london #camden #pipe #clay #smoking #gardening #digging #flowerbed

[battleshields]

Last ring of the week is an unusual ring design I'm working on in walnut. The design was taken from an iron age original in bronze. #bespokeshields #bentwoodring #ring #wooden #wood #jewellery #walnut #european #ironage #celtic #boii #hardwood #weddingring #engagmentring

[battleshields]

Check the Bespoke Shields Etsy shop for the latest creations and for you to create custom commissions:

http://bespokeshields.etsy.com/

#bespokeshields #bentwoodring #wooden #wood #jewellery #custom #hardwood #exotic #commission #etsy

[battleshields]

Finished commissioned custom ring. Ebony (Ahmarrah) on a Brazilian Mahogany lining. Custom details are the 4mm brass inscription (ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑ: 'family' in Greek), and all individual letters are made from scratch and placed on the inside of the ring under several layers of protective coating.

[battleshields]

Last ring of the week. A thin whole Cherry ring with an outer brass ring inlay. Unfinished, as the brass needs leveling so it's flush with the wood, then shaping, sanding, coating and buffing. #bentwoodring #bespokeshields #wood #wooden #ring #cherry #brass #inlay #jewellery #woodworking #weddingring #engagmentring

[battleshields]

Finished bentwood ring. Brazilian Mahogany with an Olive Ash lining. Buffed to a high sheen. #bentwoodring #ring #wood #wooden #bespokeshields #brazilianmahogany #oliveash #ash #buffed #weddingring #engagmentring #grain #hardwood #exotic #jewellery

[battleshields]

Today’s ring is made from Brazilian Mahogany with an Olive Ash lining. Not finished as there’s hardly a sheen. More buffing to do.

Check out the mahogany grain with the beautiful micro spots.

[battleshields]

Bentwood ring made from ancient bog oak (outer layer) and a cherry wood lining (inner layer). A protective coating has been buffed to a glassy sheen.

With its slim profile, this ring is a very comfortable fit. This will be the standard ring shape I will be making, although I can accept bespoke designs as well.

Dimensions: Diameter, 24mm Width, 7mm Thickness, 3mm

#wood #bentwoodring #bogoak #cherry #cherrywood #woodenring #alternative #jewelry #ring #woodwork #bespokeshields

[battleshields]

First bentwood ring I’ve made from two types of hardwood: Indian Rosewood (outer layer) and an Olive Ash liner (inner layer). Finally the ring was buffed to a glassy sheen.

Unlike solid wooden rings, bentwood rings are a lot stronger, more durable and their construction shows off the beautiful grain in a more strinking way. In fact I’ve come across metal rings that break more easily.

Will be making more of differing sizes, widths and made from some more beautiful wood species. watch this space.

#wood #bentwoodring #indianrosewood #oliveash #woodenring #bespokeshields #alternative #jewelry #ring #woodwork

[battleshields]

‘Old White’ colour paint for the shield rim. Lightly painting it on in layers to greatly reduce the rawhide from warping. This is going to take a while.

Evidence of 'lentoid’ cavalry shields in iron age Britain come from the coins of the Catuvellauni and Atrebates tribes.

[battleshields]

Shield rim drilled and stiched with double twisted linen cord. Drilling 202 holes is backbreaking work. Painting the rim and waxing the shield are next.

[battleshields]

Presents from my beautiful, lovely partner: A leather carpenter’s apron & a beginners flint knapping kit.

[battleshields]

Shield of the Week: Mangbetu

In light of the recent #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement, I have decided to post a regular ‘Shield of the Week’ (more like shield of the year the way I’m going), highlighting the diverse cultures and geography that the majority of the world simply labels ‘Black’ or ‘African’, without distinguishing the actual identities that many people are proud to regard themselves as.

The shields above are from the Mangbetu peoples and today they live in modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mangbetu shields, “Nengama, were prized by Belgian collectors who were the Mangbetu’s local European colonists of the day. The shields were made of wooden (Obeche) planks with woven reinforcements and were distinctive in the region. The bands, “emakwabo”, above and below keep the shields from splitting. The rectangular shape was a distinctive marker of Mangbetu identity.

Picture 1 shows King Okondo of the Mangbetu proudly standing in front of his warriors. Notice his shield is lighter in colour than the other shields, possibly displaying rank or maybe a better quality shield fit for a king.

Pictures 2 & 3 are two detailed views of vintage Mangbetu shields that were sold at Sotheby’s for far more than the original maker(s) could have imagined. I personally wish these pieces would be donated to museums or educational institutions and not locked up in some person’s private pleasure stash, not to be seen for ages.

Picture 4 is a shield collected by Ernest Shreiber, magistrate in the Congo between 1890 and 1913. Private Collection. It was also sold at Sotheby’s.

Picture 5 is a vintage postcard photo taken by Polish photographer Casimir Zagourski (1883 - 1944). It portrays Mangbetu warriors posing with their shields.