Aboriginal Crafts and Sculpture

Aboriginal crafts and sculpture from Northern Australia include Tiwi grave posts which were used in funeral ceremonies to mark the death of important persons.

These large carved and painted posts called Pukumani are placed around the grave as a memorial.

Smaller carvings called Toas consisting of a pointed wooden peg onto which a knob from different materials was moulded, seem to be used as markers to indicate important places on the Dreaming path.

Hollow log coffins involve the second burial, where the bones of the dead are cleaned and painted and placed in the log then placed in an upright position and left in the public area, this representing a forest containing the spirits of the dead.

Mimi: small man-like carvings of mythological impish creatures are so frail that they never venture out on windy days lest they be swept away.

If approached by men they will run into a rock crevice, if no crevice is there, the rocks themselves will open up and seal behind them.

Boab nuts from the Boab tree and Emu eggs, dark green in colour, were first carved in traditional patterns with the belief that the objects would be filled with the powers of the ancestor spirits.

After European occupation the Aboriginal craftsmen and women progressed to realistic scenes such as farmers and Aboriginal prisoners in chains.

The most well known of the Aboriginal crafts, is the returning boomerang, which was primarily used for hunting birds and small animals.

Weapons also included the larger heavier boomerang club, shaped like the number seven, which had a hooked knob at one end was used for larger prey.

Although not a boomerang the Nulla Nulla which is basically a club was a popular weapon.

Spears, the most common weapon, were assisted by an ingenious invention, the spear thrower or Woomera. It consisted of a flat oval wooden holder with an animal’s tooth or claw attached to the end, so the spear fitted onto it, this enabled the spear to be thrown very accurately and fast over 300 feet.

Shields were either carved from wood or made by layering bark, stone axes from sharpened stones were also used. All of the weapons were painted or carved with the traditional designs relevant to the people and tribes using them

Bullroarers flattish carved wood connected to a piece of twine and swung vigorously around in circles, various shapes and sizes create different sounds.

The traditional didgeridoo, musical instrument, was formed when a branch of a tree, naturally hollow, is further hollowed out by termites.

Jewellery was not particularly favoured but some was used such Riji, the pearl shells traditionally worn by men in the north-west part of Australia.

Baskets by Aboriginal craftswomen used a variety of natural fibres had both practical and spiritual uses.

The undecorated ones were used for fish nets and traps, holding food or children, while the painted ones were used to carry ceremonial objects or gifts. Soft bark was also beaten to make blankets.

People, particularly the women, cut their hair regularly using quartz or flint knives. This hair was never wasted. It was rolled on the thigh and then spun into long threads of yarn, sometimes grasses were combined with the hair to create a tougher fibre.

Purposes for the string were manifold. These aboriginal crafts included making the head ring for the coolamon, headbands to keep the hair off the face, spear-making (securing the head to the shaft), and even balls for ball games.

A general-purpose belt was made of the string, from which things could be hung, such as small game like goannas in order to free the hands on long walks and hunts.

A Coolamon is a hand crafted wooden or woven dish, which is used by the Aboriginal women when gathering bush tucker, transporting water or carrying babies. The Dillybag used to keep personal belongings used by women and collecting fruit.

Canoes are made of bark, the ends were pulled tightly into shape with strips of kangaroo hide then clay was also used at both ends to prevent water entering.

A variety of toys were crafted for the children some of which are balls, baby rings, axes, dolls, spinning tops and propellers.

Arts - Crafts - Gifts - Posters

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