Tim, the carving isn't distinct enough to make out...are you sure that it's Australian?
I ask only because, over the past few months, I've stumbled across acounts of well over a dozen African tribes that used shields nearly identical to Aboriginal pieces, only with much finer incisions and detailing.
An aboriginal shield with that kind of carving would have probably been by an aboriginal artist in today's sense, made for sale, display or profit, anywhere from the 1930's-40's on, I suspect, much like the popular Igorot shields of the Philippines with the wonderful art work carved on them.
Mike
Last edited by Conogre; 19th April 2005 at 06:33 AM.
Reason: forgot the word 'african".
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