A Fine Old Central Australia Aboriginal Shield 19th Century

A Fine Old Central Australia Aboriginal Shield 19th Century

This very fine old example of Central Australia Shield is made of Beanwood and is coarsely covered with red ochre and fat. There is continuous incised fluting on both sides with a deep-cut lug handle on the back.

The front of the shield is cut with deep grooves used for fire-making. Shields were not only a defensive weapon but also used for ceremonies painted with ochre designs, the shield was also a multipurpose tool and used for making fires. The companion tool used for this was a hardwood spear-thrower that doubled up as a saw. The saw was rubbed back and forth in the grooves producing shavings, heat, and eventually, flame. Since Aboriginal hunters and warriors carried both shields and spear-throwers with them, they were able to make fire at all times.

Provenance: Bill Newcomen Snr (1927 to 2012)

Collected at Wave Hill Station Kimberly Area West Australia by Bill Newcomen in 1953.

He was good friends with Vincent Liniari who in August 1966, Vincent Lingiari, a Gurindji spokesman, led a walk-off of 200 Aboriginal stockmen, house servants, and their families from Wave Hill as a protest against the work and pay conditions.

The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

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