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That's really a lovely piece. I have often seen them and usually they didn't really appeal to me, but this one is rather attractive! Unfortunately I have no idea what they were used for originally. Somehow I always believed they were a kind of shield decoration, or decoration used on leather straps etc. Africa direct, the online shop, also writes about them:
"These round thin disks has holes punched in pairs at the four cardinal points. ... Their small size implies that they are large enough to be worn as jewelry and the four sets of holes make may have been used to hold a strap. These discs could have been used as shield bosses. Shield boss is the center piece of round shields used by the Ethiopian warriors. Another use of these discs could be a decoration of of horse trappings. Discs such as these were also used as decorative pieces for bead jewelry among the Oromo and Arussi."
But I guess, we'll better wait for Ingrid!
Eva, hereis a piece that is quite similar to yours. It's described "southern Ethiopian" http://www.ethiopian-art.com/prod/105-harness_south_ethiopia.php
Hi Betty, thanks a lot for all your Information! So far they were always described as "Gewanddekoration", with which I could not do much. But perhaps it is, as said, part of a harness or shield..... perhaps we will find out - by someone !
After reading your text, I looked for "shield bosses Ethiopia" and found an item similar to the one above, but very expensive and I do not know ist measurement. the text said. This brass element is from the center of an Ethiopian leather shield. Although decorative in nature, it reenforced both the strength and the offensive capacity of the shield. It features raised dots and incised patterns around the perimeter as well as incisions on and around the central projection. As currency, or as something to be used for exchange or barter, It was also worn as a fertility disc by women. It is 6" in diameter and 2" deep.
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Bettina, I had to go deep in my memories where I had seen this plaques on. It was on the wedding cloaks made from leather and cowry shells from the Sidamo. I had two more of these but sold them in Ethiopia and kept one. The two other ones had each one of these decorations on it. Mine has pityful one a top of a tin, but I choose this one because of its compleetness of the cowry beads. Being on the bridal cloak I strongly suspect it to be for the sake of fertility. I have somewhere a loose piece. Must pind it.
I do not think they are on the top of the shields. The once I had and seen (when decorated with silver or brass, the top was always a round ball of cap because the tops are not flat they are rounded shields.
@Ingrid: thank you for your help! so we know now! Great that you could bring some light into this Story! Glad about it.
Sometimes, the sellers do not even know,what exactly they are selling. I found this similar Piece on Ebay, it is called Ethiopia-Metal-Disc-Jewerly-Pendant-Shield. Apparently the shields have something to do with them!
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Ethiopian-Metal-Disc-Jewelry-Pendant-Ethiopi...
I found some more! Perhaps it is interesting for Betty and Ingrid too. This is an old Sidamo pendant (unfortunately too expensive for my Budget at the Moment):
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