A BROAD SHIELD

Important Fine Art + Aboriginal Art
Sydney
2 December 2015
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77

(Darling River, New South Wales), 19th century

A BROAD SHIELD

carved and incised hardwood in-filled with natural pigments with attached handle

92.0 cm length

Estimate: 
$35,000 – 45,000
Sold for $67,100 (inc. BP) in Auction 41 - 2 December 2015, Sydney
Provenance

Executed in the Darling River Region of New South Wales in the late nineteenth century
Collection of Patrick Skehan (1861-1943), Kilmore, Victoria, acquired in the early 1900s
Thence by descent
Private collection

Related works

For two similar shields, see Cooper, C., et al., Aboriginal Australia, Australian Gallery Directors’ Council, Sydney, 1981, p. 89, pl. S49 and S50. S49 is described in part: ‘rather than being internally divided, curvilinear lines enclose discreet shapes which may represent features of the artist’s clan territory.’; For another similar shield see Aboriginal shield from New South Wales, showing the elaborately carved front and the handle at the back in the collection of Museum Victoria (cat. X1047) http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/158241