Accession No
E 1907.428
Description
Flat wooden object resembling a spearhead, cut out of the solid, barbed on both sides and pointed tang. Possibly used as a head ornament for use at corroborees.
Place
Oceania; Australia; Northern Territory; ?Melville Island
Period
Source
Marten, Robert Humphrey (Dr) [donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
MAA: AR 1908.811
Cultural Affliation
Material
wood
Local Term
Measurements
50mm x 475mm
Events
Context (Related Documents)
Event Date
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu
Description (Physical description)
Card, hand written in black ink notes 'Head ornament'
Added later in ball point pen, 'wooden, cut out of the solid'.
Pencil outline sketch on card with pencil inscription 'Insignia of office at certain corroboree', probably in hand of F.J.Heyter
Event Date 1907
Author: Rachel Hand
Description (Labels & Markings)
Old museum paper label pasted to object reads 'E. 1907.428./ ?insignia of office (Corroboree)/ Australia/ R.H. Marten, M.D. 1907'.
Illegible pencil inscription in centre of label, now crossed out.
Event Date 1908
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu
Description (Physical description)
Accession register entry for E 1907.428-429 notes ‘Two flat wooden objects resembling spear dash heads, cut out of the solid, with two-sided and one-sided barbs respectively and pointed tangs.' Possibly an insignia of office (Corroboree).
Includes pencil outline sketch
Event Date 5/6/2024
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu
Context (Display)
Copper wire removed from top barb indicatiing previous display history prior to 1990 redisplays, R. Hand 24/03/2025
Event Date 24/3/2025
Author: Rachel Hand
FM:326327
Images (Click to view full size):
