Aboriginal Central Desert Pre-Contact Shield
#153052

Early aboriginal beanwood shield from Central Desert Australia. This is likely one of the oldest, most unique Central Desert beanwood shields on the world market today. Breathes the Central Desert and the rugged survivalist culture of the peoples there. Pre-contact, worn and ochred coated surface, collected near Oodnadatta around 1920 but clearly older. Many, many years of use, a good age split at top, wear to handle, several early spinifex resin repairs and plugs. Incised linear marking to a section of front which probably indicates some ritualistic use. Aside from the parallel grooves and ochred surface characteristic of the beanwood shield, there is no extraneous decoration. But for those familiar with the life of the aboriginal in the Central Desert (see The Lizard Eaters, by Douglas Lockwood for a great read), the particular richness and value of this shield will be apparent. Exceptionally rare.

Weight: 1450 grams / 3 lbs 4 oz
Length: 64.5 cm / 25.33 in
Width: 20.5 cm / 8 in
Depth: 8 cm / 3.16 in

SOLD

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