An Unusually Broad Australian Aboriginal Western Desert Shield ‘Wunda’
An Unusually Broad Australian Aboriginal Western Desert Shield ‘Wunda’ Stone Carved and coloured with natural earth pigments of white clay and red ochre
Aged smooth patina to handle on reverse and around edges
19th Century
Size: 73.5cm long, 20cm wide - 29 ins long, 8 ins wide
Aged smooth patina to handle on reverse and around edges
19th Century
Size: 73.5cm long, 20cm wide - 29 ins long, 8 ins wide
An Unusually Broad Australian Aboriginal Western Desert Shield ‘Wunda’ Stone Carved and coloured with natural earth pigments of white clay and red ochre
Aged smooth patina to handle on reverse and around edges
19th Century
Size: 73.5cm long, 20cm wide - 29 ins long, 8 ins wide
Aged smooth patina to handle on reverse and around edges
19th Century
Size: 73.5cm long, 20cm wide - 29 ins long, 8 ins wide
Some of the early European settlers and visitors to the newly founded Australian colonies collected Aboriginal artefacts, many of which ended up in Britain orEurope or. However, shields, unlike other traded objects, were not easily obtained by the Europeans as they took many hours to make and were held sacred and in high regard by the Aboriginals.
The large flat shields were used for protection from spears and boomerangs. The incised linear designs were enhanced and emphasised with pigments rubbed into the grooves and were made by means of a possum-tooth engraving tool. These remarkably accomplished patterns changed with the alternation of light and shade in the bright Australian desert environment.
The large flat shields were used for protection from spears and boomerangs. The incised linear designs were enhanced and emphasised with pigments rubbed into the grooves and were made by means of a possum-tooth engraving tool. These remarkably accomplished patterns changed with the alternation of light and shade in the bright Australian desert environment.
An Unusually Broad Australian Aboriginal Western Desert Shield ‘Wunda’
SOLD
