A very early, fine old forked ceremonial club, Tjapara Timirrikamara from the Tiwi Islands Bathurst & Melville Islands Northern Territory.

These were used in Pukamani ceremony and in Ritual battle.

This type of club is patterned after a weapon in Tiwi mythology. Purukapali & Tjapara fought over the body of Purukapali’s son Djinini. Tjapara threw his forked fighting club which severely wounded his opponent who only had a bulbed kutunga fighting club. Tjapara became the moon and the facial injuries he suffered  may still be seen on a clear night. The forked club remains known as Tjapara’s fighting club.

Club displays banded natural pigment decoration extending to the forked tips. The handle shows longitudinal fluting and shell adze marks from manufacture.
Condition: Bears great patina from age and usage. Tips intact . Decorated in traditional designs with red, yellow, white and black natural earth ochre pigments.
Club shows age & some cracks. Feels & looks worn and used.

Original old Tiwi artefacts are very rare and beautiful examples highly sought after.

Provenance: Pre WW1 field collection. Palmer Family Collection Queensland.

Length: 57cm (22.5 inches).

Includes custom built museum display stand.

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