I recently just realized that there were shield that were made of wicker.
Besides the fact that making or repairing such a shield must have been a big hassle, I was wondering how did it actually hold up.
Would you say that it was as tough, less or tougher than wooden shields?
There are many different ways to make wicker shields. Types that have been used include
Bundle of vertical sticks: https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb9591506g - Shields like this were often faced with rawhide, which provided additional protection. This example is small, but rawhide-faced ones (e.g., ancient Persian shields) could be quite large.
Basketry-style shields: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4e/88/7a/4e887aa56fa53f598d865f96235556b4.jpg These can be made to be quite light. Light ones have been used as training shields, and in modern times, as riot shields. These can also be faced with rawhide.
Coil-type shields: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b2/85/fd/b285fd2feb6d53fe8603f17f388f8a7e.jpg These are made with a thick coil of rattan or similar, bound with thin rattan skin or silk thread or similar. This style of construction allows the use of thick rattan/cane, often about 1cm in diameter. Due to the thickness, these are very strong, and are typically unfaced.
As for strength, that depends on (a) thickness and (b) flexibility. Thick wicker shields, whether they are coil-type shields with all of their thickness being rattan, or rawhide-on-wicker shields, with a significant part of that thickness coming from rawhide, will be very protective. Chinese rattan coil shields will stop arrows, spears, and swords, and are, according to some accounts, musket resistant, as discussed in https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8b6acz/how_effective_were_ming_dynasty_rattan_shields/
Flexibility helps against swords, spears, and arrows because energy that goes into flexing the shield isn't available for cutting/penetrating the shield. Due to this flexibility, a lightweight wicker shield is probably tougher than a wooden shield of the same weight. However, if the weave is loose, there is the possibility of arrows making it through more easily. So, if it's intended for the battlefield, use a very tight weave, or a rawhide face, or a coil-type shield. A loose weave can be good for a training shield or a riot shield.
Besides the fact that making or repairing such a shield must have been a big hassle,
Don't underestimate the effort that needs to go into making a wooden shield. Basketry-style shields can be easier to make, if you include the work that goes into making planks for the wooden shield.
Follow up question for European medieval armies: Who was in charge of repair and maintenance of said shields? Was there a quartermaster or were individual soldiers tasked with upkeep?
