Summary

Intricate designs in wood have been a characteristic feature of the visual culture of south eastern Australian Aboriginal men for countless generations. The designs on the shields share similar elements but they are infinitely varied, with no two exactly the same. Shield designs were visually arresting, the elaborately incised and ochre designs had the power to create optical illusions during battle, a quality enhanced by the dexterity of the warriors.

Physical Description

Pipette shaped shield with rounded, truncated ends. Handle is carved from solid and protrudes from posterior surface. Anterior surface has a slight peaked ridge extending along the length of the weapon. On either side of ridge there is an incised zig zag line. Pattern of incised V shaped parallel lines covers most of anterior surface and is divided by a series of bands. The posterior surface is undecorated.

Significance

Research of historical records indicates this shield was one of the large amounts of material culture from Victoria that was taken overseas at some point in the 19th and 20th centuries. It came into the Museum collection in 1995 following a donation by an international collector.
Regrettably neither the name nor clan of the man who carved this spear shield were recorded when it was obtained from him in 1850. However when he made it, his identity and Country would have been evident to the men and women from other clans, recognised through the complex visual language he has etched.

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