A Superb Old Aboriginal Hafted Stone Axe Maningrida Central Arnhem Land Northern Territory Australia
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| Collection No. | T-5928 |
|---|---|
| Size | Height 24cm |
A Superb Old Aboriginal Hafted Stone Axe Maningrida Central Arnhem Land Northern Territory Australia
This beautiful old Hafted Stone Axe was an important tool, but also an important Ceremonial Object. As a ceremonial object, this is shown in the very fine ochre painting on the top section. This cross-hatching, called Raark is one of the most distinctive and beautiful features of Arnhem Land Bark Paintings. Closely-spaced fine lines are drawn in particular colours, intersecting each other.
The chosen colours may be specific to a particular clan, and the effect is difficult to describe but produces a deep impression on the viewer. Traditionally, the most sacred designs drawn on bodies during ceremonies were drawn with a quality called “bir’yun”, which is loosely translated as scintillation (as in the twinkling of stars) but carries a connotation of sunlight reflected off the sparkling water.
Indigenous Artists from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory use crushed earth ochre pigments to paint on sheets of eucalyptus bark, they paint beautiful spiritual images of deep cultural significance that show their spiritual connection with specific tracts of country
Arnhem Land Rock Art sites are thousands of years old, where ancient rock shelters were painted and maintained over generations. Arnhem Land is world-renowned for its Rock Art.
The designs seen on Arnhem Land Bark Paintings are traditional designs owned by the artist, or his “skin”, or his clan, and cannot be painted by other artists. In many cases, these designs would traditionally be used to paint the body for ceremonies or rituals, and also to decorate logs used in ceremonies. Artists also would paint designs on the bark walls and roofs of their shelters where they stayed during seasonal food gathering.
Provenance: Old Collection Australia & The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Australian Aboriginal
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