Enquiry about object: 9138
Western Queensland Fighting Boomerang
Aboriginal People, Western Queensland, Australia early 19th century
length: 69cm, width: widest at 5.2cm, weight: 285g
Provenance
UK art market
This boomerang has a dark, glossy patina and is well carved on the convex side with repeated lunettes infilled with modified cross-hatching, between narrow, vertical bands filled with repeated ‘V’ motifs.
The reverse is plain.
Each end has been filed to a point.
The boomerang has a dark patina, as mentioned, is of hardwood, and without cracks or losses. Most probably it has been carved with sharpened flint chisels.
The boomerang was found in the UK and most probably has been in the UK since colonial times.
References
McCarthy, F.D., Australia’s Aborigines: Their Life and Culture, Colorgravure, 1957.
Petty, D., The Art of Eastern Australia: Fine Aboriginal Weapons & Artefacts [sic], Graphic Solutions, 2009.
