Australian Spear Thrower - South Western Australia

Spear throwers, which serve as an extension of the arm and allow a hunter to hurl a spear with greater force, have been used for millennia by traditional cultures across the globe. In Australia, this tool is known as woomera. Aboriginal spear throwers from the southern district of Western Australia, such as the present example, take the form of flat, undecorated, leaf-shaped slips of wood. Attached at one point is a bone peg, which would notch into the base of the spear. At the opposite point is a spinifex resin knob that functions as a grip. The graceful sweep and minimal design of this woomera communicate a calm, simple beauty.

19th century
Wood, resin, bone
H: 23 in W: 6 in
Provenance:

Private collection, USA

Item Number:
669
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