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Details
- Place where the work was made
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New South Wales
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Australia
- Cultural origin
- Southeast region
- Date
- circa 1800-1850
- Media categories
- Woodwork , Painting , Sculpture
- Materials used
- carved hardwood
- Dimensions
- 64.5 cm height
- Credit
- Purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation 2018
- Location
- North Building, ground level, Yiribana Gallery
- Accession number
- 527.2018
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Unknown
Works in the collection
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About
Spectacularly carved with radiating fields of diamonds, this exceptional parrying shield is from the south-east region of New South Wales. Parrying shields are solid and narrow to parry, or ward off, blows from clubs, and are made from a single piece of wood that has the handle cut into it. These shields often have three or four sides with incised front-facing designs.
The skill and time involved in creating shields indicates their cultural importance. Engraved with myriad lines, south-eastern shields best exemplify the region’s artistic cultural practice. These shields are often cloaked in an array of diamonds, zigzags, squares, bands, circles, criss-crosses and the occasional figure. These iconic designs empower the shield bearer by representing country and identifying both regional and clan affiliations. As seen in the imagery of both William Barak and Tommy McRae, broad and parrying shields played a central role in south-east ceremonies. Shields used in performance would often be painted with natural pigments, remnants of which can still be seen on many today.
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Places
Where the work was made
New South Wales
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Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Yiribana Gallery: opening collection display, Art Gallery of New South Wales, North Building, Sydney, 03 Dec 2022–29 May 2023