Lot 21F
Oceania, Australia, Arrernte (Aranda, Arunta) people, ca. 1940s or earlier CE. A sacred Aboriginal "tjurunga" board carved from wood and painted with figures of Mimi spirits - mischievous ancestral beings of mythological significance. This tjurunga is a deeply symbolic ritual object, traditionally used in men's secret-sacred rites and representing powerful ties to the Dreaming - Aboriginal cosmology and mythic time. This board exhibits an elliptical form tapering toward the ends, its edges textured with notched carving and decorative protrusions, and the upper section culminates in a pentagonal crest that suggests a head or protective emblem, accentuating its figural associations. The center displays two dancing Mimi figures rendered in gestural linework, indicating mythic instruction and sacred performance. Faint remains of white and red ochre remain across the surface, now faded and worn with age. Size: 17.25" L x 6" W (43.8 cm x 15.2 cm); 18" H (45.7 cm) on included custom stand.
The tjurunga was intimately connected to personal and clan-based spiritual identity. Each male initiated into adulthood was introduced to his descent group's tjurunga and its encoded knowledge. Upon death, the board might accompany the body, embodying the resting place of the individual's spirit. These boards link the living to the mythic beings of the Dreaming and to ancestors through encoded designs and storytelling. Used both as ritual instruments and mythological emblems, tjurunga such as this example are exceedingly rare, especially those bearing figural imagery.
Exhibited: "Eye Opener," 2018. Hands-On Curatorial Program exhibition, Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico; acquired from Taylor Dale (TAD) Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; collected in 1940.
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#196364
- Condition: Some fading to pigments and minor chips to wood, but otherwise good condition. Comes with a custom stand, however the piece is top heavy and the stand easily tips over when slightly moved.
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