Cane Shield

Robinson, p.162 notes that shields were not generally used in Tibet, so this example is a rare find; a large domed cane shields (sba phub).  Constructed of a thick rod of cane, tightly coiled into a spiral.  The rows are completely wrapped with thin split cane, which holds them together.  The shield has a large central iron bosses.  The surfaces are painted red with almonds shaped cartouches in black.  A similar example is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2005.145), see LaRocca, p.94, no.25.