Arthur Beau Palmer Family Collection, Queensland.

La Grange Karajarri woomera of the finest Museum quality. Extremely large, very early old example in fine condition. SW Kimberley of Western Australia. Woomera front is fully decorated in finely incised rats tooth tula chisel fluted lineal herring bone chevron decoration possibly after trade to other Kimberley Aboriginal groups. (see Akerman; p 234-235.Shields Barbier-Mueller Museum).



This beautiful superior all over traditional Karajarri tight complex interlocking design (Palmer field notes 1975-76 Djaru/Walmadjari/Gogadja trade partner informants interpretation of interlocking pattern as (mythological) women's dancing foot drag tracks during open ritual destruction of male initiates ceremonial sacred ground mosaics & designs. Also natural wind patterns on longitudinal dunes originally made by Creation Heroes from Great Sandy Desert).

Surface & handle displays a deep rich dark age patina. An important traditional senior man of high degree ceremonial ritual status symbol & trade ceremonial exchange item.

Woomera peg & spinifex resin knob intact. Superb rare chert stone tula adze & spinifex mount distal end.
C1880.
Very heavy hard desert wood (ironwood) H 65cm x W 16.5cm.

Davidson,D.S. 1949.The interlocking key design in Aboriginal Australian decorative art. Mandkind,vol 4 (30.pp5-98.
Davies,SM.2002. Collected. 150 years of Aboriginal Art and Artifacts. The Macleay Museum Sydney NSW
Cooper, Carol. 1981. Aboriginal Australia. National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Australian Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, Australian Gallery Directors Council in association with the National Gallery of Victoria
McCarthy, Fred. 1974. Aboriginal Decorative Art. The Australian Museum. Sydney NSW