Oceanic Art - Miscellaneous Enlargement

This Central Australian shield is made from the softwood of the Sturt bean tree. This one has good age and a nice complete design with totemic symbols. Often in Central Desert cultures concentric circles signify a camp, waterhole or generally relate to the female. The multiple dots possibly signify fecundity and reproduction (P. Benitez-Johannot in "Shields" from the collection of Barbier Mueller, 2000, p. 230). This example was collected at Papunya between 1974-75 by a government employed horticulturalist who purchased the shield from an elderly Pintupi man. The shield is 25" in height, comes mounted on a custom display stand. sold