Stockroom161 of 549
Click to enlargec.1927 – 2002
- Region
- Western Desert
- Community
- Papunya
- Language group
- Anmatyerr (Anmatyerre); Warlpiri
Ceremonial Shield, c.1990
synthetic polymer paint on soft wood
75 x 33 cm
$2,400
Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.
- Provenance
- Western Desert Art, NT Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, NSW
- Exhibited
- 'Big Country: Australian Aboriginal Art Coast to Coast', USA, Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle USA, June – September 2012
- Artwork story
- In central Australia, softwood shields with fluted surfaces provided protection in times of conflict. These shields are another example of a multipurpose implement. The hollowed-out handle formed a cavity or small bowl in which ochres could be prepared, the convex surface could be used for lighting fires by the sawing method, and when painted with the appropriate designs the shield was transformed into an important ritual object.