|
A Central Australian shield
is fluted both front and back and has a deep lug handle; red ochre overall.
Materials: softwood, ochre; height: 590mm; width: 210mm; depth: 55mm.
Provenance:
Date and place of collection from the field is not known.
Acquired by LukLuk Gallery from a tribal art auction in Adelaide in 2000.
Shields are defensive weapons and are used, mostly in single combat for warding off blows given by sword, boomerang, or club.
Iron oxide which is red or yellow in colour was used by the Aborigines for painting weapons and ceremonial regalia, and sometimes themselves.
Discussion:
See 'McCourt, T. 1975' - for general discussion on Aboriginal artefacts.
Comparison:
See 'Sotheby's (Melbourne) 1991' - lot 71 for similar shield.
|
|
|
