A Rare Australian Aboriginal New South Wales Western Victoria South East of the Murray River Region Stone Cut Dense Hardwood Narrow Parrying Shield Decorated with Totemic Designs to the Front Containing Traces of White-Clay with a Solid cut handle behind
Fine old dark patina the frontal surface showing dents and cuts from clubs and spears
Early to Mid 19th Century
Size: 80.5cm high, 13cm wide – 31¾ ins high, 5 ins wide
Ex Private UK collection
cf: Pitt Rivers Museum University of Oxford has a similar Narrow Shield collected by G.H. Cox Victorian 1864 (1886.1.1602.)
National Gallery of Victoria Christensen collection (H195) has a similar Stone Carved Narrow Shield Decorated with Pipe Clay and Red Ochre
Aboriginal shields dating from the 19th century from this area are rare as by the 1850’s most of Southeastern Australia was under European control with many aboriginal groups displaced and dispossessed of their land. Early collectors displayed a definite bias towards men’s weapons carved with interesting designs and robust enough to withstand the rigours of travel and the vagaries of storage which more fragile pieces would not survive. The shields from Western Victoria were used as protection and for warding off clubs and spears in close combat. Made of a dense, dark hard wood they are stone carved with incised patterns which are enhanced by white kaolin and red ochre rubbed into the grooves. This in bright sunshine would create an effect of a flashing light before the enemy’s eyes.
These shields bearing complex designs were used only in warfare or in connection with ceremonial activities. Warfare between different groups was subjected to strict rules and ritualised clashes between opposing formations of tensed warriors, their bodies and shields glistening with colour, they enacted battles in which few were actually killed and the intention seemed to be one of ritual wounding.
By appointment only.
