Lot 470 AN ABORIGINAL COOLAMON CARRYING BASKET, AUSTRALIA, EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Wood. Very finely carved coolamon carrying tray. Good signs of Aboriginal use on the inside. Thinly hollowed out wood, light weight. Coolamon were used to transport foodstuffs from daily treks into the bush to camp and also seem to have played a ceremonial role (for example gift giving ceremonies). That would certainly be the case with this item, given the light weight and shallow depth. The pattern shows similarities with spiritual and totemic carvings found on Churinga shields. Brought over in the 1950´s by a Dutch soldier stationed in New Guinea, on leave in Australia. The coolamon therefore likely dates to the early 20th century if not before.
67 by 15 cm.