(SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA), early 20th Century

Part 2: Important Aboriginal Art
Melbourne
26 November 2014
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95

A PAIR OF RARE CLUBS

(SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA), early 20th Century

carved and incised hardwood, each with blade-like biconvex distal ends decorated with engraved designs on both sides, the shafts of circular section terminating in a bulbous pointed base. One blade is decorated with three figures, a lizard, an emu, and a swan, and on the other side a man throwing a spear, a kangaroo, and another figure. The second blade is decorated with engraved traditional motifs

69.0 cm and 62.5 cm length

Estimate: 
$4,000 - 6,000 (2)
Sold for $4,560 (inc. BP) in Auction 37 - 26 November 2014, Melbourne
Provenance

Private collection, United Kingdom
Sotheby's, Sydney, 20 October 2008, lot 3
Private collection, Sydney

Related works

For a similar club, see Cooper, C., et al., Aboriginal Australia, Australian Gallery Directors' Council, Sydney, 1981, p. 95, pl. S71, described as: 'An unusual form of club of which very few specimens survive. One similar example from the Australian Museum is provenanced to the Paroo River in far north western New South Wales, and it is probable that this is where this specimen originated. Its collector, K.H. Bennett, obtained it from Aborigines living along the Lachlan River and noted that here it was used as a 'Badge of Office', rather than a club. It would seem that this piece was traded down the Darling River, gaining in value as it travelled.'