Item X 83934 Alkwerte | Shield. Arrernte. Hermannsburg, Desert East, Northern Territory, Australia. 1962

Summary

Central Australian shields were traditionally used as defensive weapons against spears and boomerangs in conflict situations. The surface of these shields were also decorated with designs representing the totemic ancestors of young men and displayed during the public stages of their initiation.

Local Name

Alkwerte

Physical Description

Oval shape shield made from softwood. Outer surface convex, inner surface concave and fluted on both sides. Coated with red ochre, the front is decorated with concentric circles and dots of white ochre and yellow ochre.