Central Australian Small Aboriginal Tjurunga or Churinga

This small, fine churinga or tjurunga or has been carved on both sides with dense bands of striations. It is of typical, elongated convex lens form.

A churinga is a sacred object of certain Aboriginal groups of Central Australia, most particularly by the Arrernte people (also known as the Aranda or Arunta) whose indigenous lands include Alice Springs. The carvings on each churinga conveyed special meaning known only to the traditional owners.

Small churingas such as this example sometimes were worn as a hair pin by male tribal elders during ceremonies.

Only those men who had passed initiation ceremonies were permitted to view the churinga. These initiations included ordeal by fire whereby young men were required to lie without commotion across a smouldering fire for a few minutes as a demonstration of self restraint.

A similar, short example comprised lot 61, Sotheby’s Paris, ‘Exceptionelle Collection des Isles Fidji: Art d’Oceanie; Collection de Georges Thomann, Karel Timmermans et Divers Amateurs: Art d’Afrique’, December 5, 2006.

The example here is in excellent condition and most probably carved with sharpened flint chisels.

The churinga was found in the UK and most probably has been in the UK since colonial times.