Small oval shield made of cowhide with dark fur. The shield is reinforced by leather strips that run through two rows of slits in the centre. Further strips are inserted at the top and bottom along the edges and in the centre in the form of two ornaments. There is a small leather loop on the back to hold the shield in place. The so-called "Ishilunga" shields are typical of South Africa and the Zulu. The colour of the shield indicated the marital status and/or experience of the fighters. The least experienced fighters usually used black shields, while white shields were reserved for the highest-ranking fighters. Due to its small size, this shield was probably made as a toy for children. The inventory book states: "Shield made from an animal skin for war games." The collection was donated to the Gewerbemuseum by Max Hößle in 1923. Ulrich Hößle created it around 1880 in South Africa, in the area of Pietermaritzburg, now the province of KwaZulu-Natal. At the time, the area belonged to the British colony of Natal.