Item X 37000 bagu | Fire utensil. Rainforest, Queensland, Australia. 1840 - 1900

Summary

The fire kit comprises an elongated base and eight drills. One face of the base would have a series of regular holes used for inserting the drills or short cylindrical sticks to make fire. The base is anthropomorphic in form and painted with natural pigments. It has been carved with a distinct head in which three holes are cut to form the eyes and mouth. The drills are tied on with string at either end of the base.

Local Name

bagu

Physical Description

An anthropomorphic figure made from a single piece of wood and six short cylindrical sticks. The base figure is painted with natural pigments and geometric abstract design.

Significance

This fire kit with its anthromorphic form is unqiue to the rainforest region of north Qeensland. A limited number of examples from the nineteenth century have survived with four in the collections of Museum Victoria.