Australian Aboriginal Toy Woomera & Shield

Clubs & Arrows · 21st May 2012, 03:34 PM

Picked up this pair of old Aboriginal pieces a while back and thought that someone else on the board might enjoy seeing them. The little Woomera is only about 6 3/4" long. The attention to detail and patination is interesting. The small shield is heavily patinated inside the fingerholes. All I need now is a toy spear, boomerang, and club to finish the set.

Sajen · 21st May 2012, 06:18 PM

The shield look really ancient and have by this a niece charisma!

Regards,

Detlef

Gavin Nugent · 21st May 2012, 09:35 PM

Interesting lot.

The shield looks more like a fire starter of some kind, the recess used to start the burning of the kindling and the paddle shape to both protect the small starting of the fire from wind and also used as a fan to grow the fire....the shape would be useful to hold between the legs of knees.

Gav

Clubs & Arrows · 21st May 2012, 10:20 PM

Gavin,
I did get a fire starter in the same collection, but it was a a pair of decorated sticks, one with the ground in round marks from use. The holes go through the interior to the opposite side. No place for it to push down against, unless maybe it was used until it went all the way through?

21st May 2012, 03:34 PM	#1
Clubs & Arrows Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Gabriel Foothills, Southern California Posts: 94	Australian Aboriginal Toy Woomera & Shield Picked up this pair of old Aboriginal pieces a while back and thought that someone else on the board might enjoy seeing them. The little Woomera is only about 6 3/4" long. The attention to detail and patination is interesting. The small shield is heavily patinated inside the fingerholes. All I need now is a toy spear, boomerang, and club to finish the set. Attached Images

21st May 2012, 06:18 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,491	The shield look really ancient and have by this a niece charisma! Regards, Detlef

21st May 2012, 09:35 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Interesting lot. The shield looks more like a fire starter of some kind, the recess used to start the burning of the kindling and the paddle shape to both protect the small starting of the fire from wind and also used as a fan to grow the fire....the shape would be useful to hold between the legs of knees. Gav

21st May 2012, 10:20 PM	#4
Clubs & Arrows Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Gabriel Foothills, Southern California Posts: 94	Gavin, I did get a fire starter in the same collection, but it was a a pair of decorated sticks, one with the ground in round marks from use. The holes go through the interior to the opposite side. No place for it to push down against, unless maybe it was used until it went all the way through?