DACIAN PARADE SHIELDS UMBO
The two shield umbos made of iron, extremely rare and valuable pieces were recovered by the Romanian authorities in the spring of 2011, after repatriation being included in the collection of the National Museum of Romanian History.
Shield no 1 (with the representation of a bison) – is made from a tin with a current maximum diameter of 42 cm, realized by au repouse technique, or rather by hot hammering, with a thickness of 1 to 1,8 mm and a maximum high of 5 mm, weighting about 1,5 kg. On the whole outer circumference is reproduced a band similar to a cord or a twisted rope, in relief, width 5 mm, externally delimiting a flat edge (brim) of the piece, 5 cm wide in the middle and drilled in the middle area with 12 circular holes, with a diameter of 6.7 – 7.1 -7, 8 -8.75 mm, sometimes distorted due to age and restorations, located at relatively equal distances from each other (8.95-10.11 cm from the centre of the hole). This flat edge (brim) delimits the main shield’s umbo, which is composed of three registers, all decorated. The first register is composed by small eggs. The external rope delimits the first two registers, while the internal one emphasise the demarcation of register no 3. The two ropes are winding in the same direction from the outside left corner to the inside right one. The entire register 2 is adorned with two rows composed by 19 triangular leaves, relief represented. Register 3 or the “central medallion” has a diameter of 18.5 cm. The entire space of this central medallion is occupied by the animal and vegetal decoration described below. The bison, seen in profile to the right, illustrated in relief, is reproduced in the centre. The bison’s head, with ear, eye, mouth and nose, also in profile, has the horns seen from the front. Under the chin there’s a triangular beard pointing down. The body is decorated with rows of short, parallel lines, incised, rendering the fur. The legs are walking, facing each other; just the left hind leg is bent. Behind and above the bison, long, wavy ivy is developing, out of which other three boughs divides, ending with three different sizes leaves, ornate by hatching. The area from the animal’s forehead is poorly preserved, being rusted and with parts missing.
Shield no 2 (with a griffin representation) is made by a tin with a diameter of 41.8 cm, using au repous technique or rather hot hammering, 1.8 to 1.9 mm thick, 5 cm high and 1,6 kg. The shield’s umbo is composed by three adorned registers. Register 1 (Eirstab decoration) consists of small eggs (1.5-0.93 cm), rounded on the outside and straight on the inside, leaning on a band similar to a string or twisted rope, embossed and 5 mm wide. The external rope delimits the first two registers, while the internal one emphasise the demarcation of register no 3. The two ropes are winding in the same direction from the outside left corner to the inside right one. The entire register 2 is adorned with two rows composed by 19 triangular leaves, relief represented.
In the centre (register 3), above the maximum diameter, is represented a griffin in profile to right, with lion body and legs, and raptor’s neck, head and wings. The head represents the protomes of a raptor, with its head upright and a curved beak. From the contact area between the chest and front paws starts a rib, arched in strong relief, representing the right wing. It overlaps the animal’s neck and then suddenly turns back on a curve duct. The area remained free, under the animal’s body, is filled with a vegetal decoration. Starting from the edge of the rope, there are two loos leaves, from which, a spiral ending creeping stalk goes left (between the animal’s legs) and a thick one out of which other boughs develops.
