Shield

P1876A

From: Australia | South Australia | Murray River

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

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Object Number P1876A
Current Location Collections Storage
Provenience Australia | South Australia | Murray River
Period Late Colonial Australia Period
Date Made 1850-1900 CE
Section Oceanian
Materials Wood | Pigment
Description

The collector, J.T. Huston, labeled this object as coming from the Arrernte people; however, the geographical location does not align with the Arrernte territory and therefore the object has not been assigned a cultural group.

A long oval shaped wooden shield with fluting on the front of the shield. There are two 8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide indentations carved in the middle of one side. These indentations connect with each other under a thin bridge of wood, creating a place to hold the shield.

“Shield picked up after a battle. The fatal spear broke through the edge of the shield and killed the owner...” (Collector’s Object List).

The collector, J.T. Huston incorrectly spelled the native name of this object as al-coorta.

Length 63.5 cm
Width 19.5 cm
Credit Line Gift of J. T. Huston, 1907
Other Number 19 | 44 - Other Number

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