A Fine Old First Australians Hooked Boomerang & Woomera Northern Territory & West Australia

A Superb Old First Australians Hooked Boomerang Northern Territory Australia Early 20th Century 

This beautiful old boomerang is carved from a single piece of hardwood, it is finely incised with fluting on the front surface and with traces of ochre painting, the back of the boomerang is finely adzed with traditional tools.  Hooked boomerangs were non-returning boomerangs, they were used to kill multiple birds when thrown into a dense flock. Boomerangs are multi-purpose tools that are used for hunting and could be wielded as clubs, used for digging, used to start friction fires, and as a musical instrument when two are struck together during ceremonial dancing.  With the dramatic hooked finial, this boomerang looks like an abstracted bird of pure form.

And A Fine Old Woomera Spear Thrower from West Australia with Stone Knife in the handle. Late 19^th to Early 20th Century.

The Woomera Spear Thrower is a sophisticated technology that elongates the arm making the spear travel much further in distance & with great accuracy. This beautiful old Woomera finely incised with a Zig Zag design & red ochre, there is a small stone knife in the handle, a multi-purpose tool.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea & First Australians & Oceanic Art