Woomera by Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula
This hand crafted decorated woomera was made by the artist in 1983.
A woomera is an Australian Aboriginal spear-throwing device used for when there is a greater distance to be overcome. It is highly efficient. It enables the spear to travel much further than by arm strength along
As with spears and boomerangs, woomeras were traditionally only used by men. Some woomeras, especially those used in the Central and Western Australian deserts, were multi-purpose tools. Often shaped like long narrow bowls, they could be used for carrying water-soaked vegetable matter (which could later be sucked for its moisture, but wouldn't spill) as well as small food items such as little lizards or seeds. Many woomeras had a sharp stone cutting edge attached to the end of the handle with black gum from the triodia plant. This sharp tool had many uses – and was commonly used for cutting up game or other food, cutting wood, and so on.
The woomera could be used as a shield for protection against spears and boomerangs. Some boomerangs were deliberately made with a hook at one end designed to catch onto the edge of a woomera or shield, which then caused the boomerang to swivel around and hit the enemy.
The woomera was traditionally decorated with incised or painted designs which gave a good indication of the owner's tribal or clan group, giving one their sense of identity or "being".
Our Gift Card Certificate of Provenance contains the following information:
- Artist Name: Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula
- Artists Region:
- Description:
- Item ID: BBAC118
This item is an authentic piece of craft made by an Australian Indigenous artist.
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