Ceremonial spears were used in Tiwi mortuary ceremonies known as Pukamani. The highly stylised painted artefacts for which Tiwi people are world-famous are produced as part of these elaborate ceremonies. The Tiwi assign gender groupings to these spears. Female spears (2 & 3) arawinikiri have barbs on both sides. Male Spears (1 & 4) tunkalinta tunkaringa have barbs on one side only. Finely carved and elaborately decorated old traditional Pukamani ceremonial spears with traditional designs in natural earth ochre pigments of red, yellow, black and white.
(Carol Cooper. et. al., Aboriginal Australia, Sydney: Australian Galleries Directors' Council, 1981, pp.164-165, pl. N246-254 (illus))
Length: 210cm (83 inches).
PROVENANCE: Arthur Beau Palmer Field Collection.
1. US$600 2. US$1,800 3. US$850 4. US$600
| Title | Price | Details |
| A Pair of Tiwi Spearheads | A$3,120 | Natural earth pigments on carved hardwood, 114.5 cm and 127 cm height, Est: $3,000-4,000, Deutscher and Hackett, Inaugural Aboriginal Art Auction, Melbourne, 25/03/2009, Lot No. 31 |
