Parrying Shield | Traditional Design | Friends Camping Theme

This is an authentic Australian made Aboriginal “Friend's Camping” parrying shield handmade and hand painted by 83-year-old tribal elder Joe Ian Skeen Senior from Brisbane, Australia.

This "Friend's Camping" painted parrying shield has been hand made in the traditional way.

Parrying shields were made to parry blows from a club unlike broad shields that are thin and wide and were used to block spears.

This type of shield was often used in close quarters to parry during fighting. These parrying shields were made to be thick and strong.

Sometimes besides fighting, these shields were used in significant occasions such as corroborees. A Corroboree is an Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony which may take the form of a sacred ritual or an informal gathering.

Joe Skeen is an 81-year-old Kuku-Thaypan elder and third generation Aboriginal artefact maker.

We provide a certificate of authenticity stating the heritage of the maker, Joe Skeen Senior, and providing other details about this hand-made authentic Aboriginal artefact. 

Size:  67 cm (26 inches long) and 14 cm (5 inches wide and 3 cm (1.5 inch) thick
Weight: 1.1 kilograms (2.3 lbs.).
Tribal: Birri-Gubba - in the Bowen area of North Queensland
Maternal: Kuku-Thaipan - North Queensland
Material: Australian hardwood timber
Made: Queensland, Australia

The handle on the back fits an adult hand with 3-4 fingers inside the grip with the thumb over the back.