Aus Aboriginal club+shield

Tim Simmons · 20th June 2016, 05:12 PM

Here now. I am very pleased with the outcome. I am showing the " digging stick" next to a Fijian pole club a few cm longer than the "digging stick" which is 111cm. If you have handled Fijian pole clubs you will know they are made from heavy hard wood. The "digging stick" weight is 1.517kg a little heavier than the pole club at 1.432kg. After research I was expecting the shield to be made of a light soft wood. This shield is made of a heavy hard wood weighing 2.247kg. Both items show vintage and do not look like recent tourist work. The paint is not modern polymer paint, I say this as I paint myself, landscape in oils. The shield has many tool marks, I have scrutinised these marks with a x10 loop and cannot make up my mind as to whether these marks are from a metal rasp or file or the scraping and juddering over and over again of a simple tool such as a sharped flatted iron nail or glass or stone tool or a combination of all. The stick shows repair with a resinous substance. It is very difficult to show all the subtleties through a camera on to a PC. Knowing the area was just a telegraph outpost with a couple of huts until mining in the 1930s I see no reason not to think the pieces to be from at least the mid 20th century. I add one of my paintings, West Bay looking to Burton Bradstock, so that I do not appear to BS.

VANDOO · 20th June 2016, 06:06 PM

THEY BOTH LOOK GOOD TO ME SHOWING AGE AND USE, THE WOODS USED IN AUSTRALIA PATINA SLOWER AND DIFFERENT FROM THE FIJI CLUB DUE TO CLIMATE AS WELL AS THE WOODS PROPERTY'S. IF THE WEIGHT IS MORE THAN A FIJI BOWAI I SUSPECT IT IS MORE OF A CLUB THAN A DIGGING STICK. I LIKE THE PAINT DESIGNS ON BOTH ITEMS AND THE SHIELD HAS AN ESPECIALLY INTERESTING PATTERN WHICH NO DOUBT TELLS A STORY AS WELL AS HAS TRIBAL AND PERHAPS PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS NICE ITEMS.

Shamsy · 21st June 2016, 04:02 AM

I would still politely disagree with any suggestion that the digging stick is a Waddy. Aboriginal clubs almost all have a heavy end, typically a root or fork in a branch, whereas digging sticks tend to be thick, heavy wood, one end pointed to dig, one flattened for the hand to rest on and a homogeneous cylindrical shaft.

While hardly the most reliable source ever, if you google image search a digging stick, then compare this to a search of waddy or nulla nulla, you will see the differences. Being no expert in paint I cannot comment, but remembering that aboriginal paint was mostly formed with ochre which is a rather chalky medium, that should give you a good indication of the age of the decorations. Likewise colors are a great way to date work, as the Aboriginal people used a limited palate based on available hues.

Tim Simmons · 21st June 2016, 07:12 AM

Yes all good points. However I do not think there is a rule book on club forms. As for the paints, the colours are not beyond those that can be made from ochres. Also we do not know what was used as a binder, which in this case may be lasting well since the pieces have not been in Aboriginal use. There are areas showing distress of the paint. Google is a marvelous tool for research but it is rather selective. What ever the books say about weapon forms there are always forms that differ from those standard and commonly known and collected. This link is lightly informative if you explore the highlighted.

http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/methods/methods.php

Shamsy · 21st June 2016, 08:17 AM

All are excellent points. Even in the most known of topics there are outliers and exceptions. Aboriginal weaponry is a topic that is sadly lacking and receives little interest even in Australia. I'm glad you are interested and there's plenty of room for research and writing on the subject. I find it an interesting topic, especially as it is still very much in the pioneer stage.

Tim Simmons · 21st June 2016, 10:37 AM

There are big heavy ceremonial digging sticks used to dig water holes. The digging of the water hole is in some ways like the black rod knocking to open the British parliament. Also the water is needed to drink and so on. So it could be one of these.

Tim Simmons · 21st June 2016, 10:47 AM

Lifted from the National Museum Australia.

The digging stick

Another powerful item that the Djang'kawu brought to Yalangbara was the ceremonial digging stick mawalan (also wapitja and djota), used to create freshwater holes on their travels.

The term mawalan can refer to either a digging stick or a paddle, because the oars were used by the Djang'kawu during their sea voyage to Yalangbara to create freshwater pools at various places in the sea.

Once on land, the Sisters continued to create freshwater wells by plunging their mawalan into the previously barren earth. They did this in each of the Dhuwa clan countries they visited, leaving their mawalan as a symbol of their creativity and authority. The water that it created is likened to 'the fluid or source of Yolngu knowledge'.

To emphasise its embodiment of ritual knowledge and land ownership, the senior Rirratjingu men presented a ceremonial mawalan to the Australian government during the Gove land rights case. They believed that the digging stick piercing the ground to create Djang'kawu law and knowledge was like the parliamentary rod opening the doors of parliament. Both staffs in this context symbolise the gaining of entry to culturally different, though equivalent, systems of power.

The exhibited digging stick normally displayed in Parliament House next to the famous Yirrkala Bark Petition has been generously loaned for the Yalangbara: Art of the Djang'kawu exhibition.

Although this stick is from Arnhem Land not the central desert I would not be surprised to find similar culture elsewhere.

20th June 2016, 05:12 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Here now. I am very pleased with the outcome. I am showing the " digging stick" next to a Fijian pole club a few cm longer than the "digging stick" which is 111cm. If you have handled Fijian pole clubs you will know they are made from heavy hard wood. The "digging stick" weight is 1.517kg a little heavier than the pole club at 1.432kg. After research I was expecting the shield to be made of a light soft wood. This shield is made of a heavy hard wood weighing 2.247kg. Both items show vintage and do not look like recent tourist work. The paint is not modern polymer paint, I say this as I paint myself, landscape in oils. The shield has many tool marks, I have scrutinised these marks with a x10 loop and cannot make up my mind as to whether these marks are from a metal rasp or file or the scraping and juddering over and over again of a simple tool such as a sharped flatted iron nail or glass or stone tool or a combination of all. The stick shows repair with a resinous substance. It is very difficult to show all the subtleties through a camera on to a PC. Knowing the area was just a telegraph outpost with a couple of huts until mining in the 1930s I see no reason not to think the pieces to be from at least the mid 20th century. I add one of my paintings, West Bay looking to Burton Bradstock, so that I do not appear to BS. Attached Images

21st June 2016, 07:12 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Yes all good points. However I do not think there is a rule book on club forms. As for the paints, the colours are not beyond those that can be made from ochres. Also we do not know what was used as a binder, which in this case may be lasting well since the pieces have not been in Aboriginal use. There are areas showing distress of the paint. Google is a marvelous tool for research but it is rather selective. What ever the books say about weapon forms there are always forms that differ from those standard and commonly known and collected. This link is lightly informative if you explore the highlighted. http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/methods/methods.php Last edited by Tim Simmons; 21st June 2016 at 07:39 AM.

21st June 2016, 10:47 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Lifted from the National Museum Australia. The digging stick Another powerful item that the Djang'kawu brought to Yalangbara was the ceremonial digging stick mawalan (also wapitja and djota), used to create freshwater holes on their travels. The term mawalan can refer to either a digging stick or a paddle, because the oars were used by the Djang'kawu during their sea voyage to Yalangbara to create freshwater pools at various places in the sea. Once on land, the Sisters continued to create freshwater wells by plunging their mawalan into the previously barren earth. They did this in each of the Dhuwa clan countries they visited, leaving their mawalan as a symbol of their creativity and authority. The water that it created is likened to 'the fluid or source of Yolngu knowledge'. To emphasise its embodiment of ritual knowledge and land ownership, the senior Rirratjingu men presented a ceremonial mawalan to the Australian government during the Gove land rights case. They believed that the digging stick piercing the ground to create Djang'kawu law and knowledge was like the parliamentary rod opening the doors of parliament. Both staffs in this context symbolise the gaining of entry to culturally different, though equivalent, systems of power. The exhibited digging stick normally displayed in Parliament House next to the famous Yirrkala Bark Petition has been generously loaned for the Yalangbara: Art of the Djang'kawu exhibition. Although this stick is from Arnhem Land not the central desert I would not be surprised to find similar culture elsewhere. Attached Images

20th June 2016, 06:06 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THEY BOTH LOOK GOOD TO ME SHOWING AGE AND USE, THE WOODS USED IN AUSTRALIA PATINA SLOWER AND DIFFERENT FROM THE FIJI CLUB DUE TO CLIMATE AS WELL AS THE WOODS PROPERTY'S. IF THE WEIGHT IS MORE THAN A FIJI BOWAI I SUSPECT IT IS MORE OF A CLUB THAN A DIGGING STICK. I LIKE THE PAINT DESIGNS ON BOTH ITEMS AND THE SHIELD HAS AN ESPECIALLY INTERESTING PATTERN WHICH NO DOUBT TELLS A STORY AS WELL AS HAS TRIBAL AND PERHAPS PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS NICE ITEMS.

21st June 2016, 04:02 AM	#3
Shamsy Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Australia Posts: 12	I would still politely disagree with any suggestion that the digging stick is a Waddy. Aboriginal clubs almost all have a heavy end, typically a root or fork in a branch, whereas digging sticks tend to be thick, heavy wood, one end pointed to dig, one flattened for the hand to rest on and a homogeneous cylindrical shaft. While hardly the most reliable source ever, if you google image search a digging stick, then compare this to a search of waddy or nulla nulla, you will see the differences. Being no expert in paint I cannot comment, but remembering that aboriginal paint was mostly formed with ochre which is a rather chalky medium, that should give you a good indication of the age of the decorations. Likewise colors are a great way to date work, as the Aboriginal people used a limited palate based on available hues.

21st June 2016, 08:17 AM	#5
Shamsy Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Australia Posts: 12	All are excellent points. Even in the most known of topics there are outliers and exceptions. Aboriginal weaponry is a topic that is sadly lacking and receives little interest even in Australia. I'm glad you are interested and there's plenty of room for research and writing on the subject. I find it an interesting topic, especially as it is still very much in the pioneer stage.

21st June 2016, 10:37 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	There are big heavy ceremonial digging sticks used to dig water holes. The digging of the water hole is in some ways like the black rod knocking to open the British parliament. Also the water is needed to drink and so on. So it could be one of these.