A Western Australian Aboriginal Shield

Object Description

A Western Australian Aboriginal Shield
Wood, pigment
Australia
19th Century

SIZE: 75cm high – 29½ ins high

Object History

Ex Adam Prout, 2013
Ex Private collection

Object Literature

The Australian Aborigines lived in a country where agriculture was not practised and where no animals except for the dingo dog were available for domestication. So they were forced to remain hunters and gatherers. Consequently much time was spent making and decorating weapons which they mainly used for hunting. The arsenal of the Aborigine consisted of boomerangs, shields, clubs, throwing clubs, sticks, spears and spear throwers, all made from wood. These flat slab shaped shields were used for protection from spears and boomerangs, although inter-tribal warfare was uncommon and most personal disputes were settled by ritual contest.

Object Details