Lot 29
A PAIR OF HOOKED BOOMERANG
LIKELY WARLPIRI PEOPLES, NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA
Auction: 26 November 2025 at 14:00 GMT
Description
carved wood and ochre, each adorned with incised grooving and raised together on a bespoke mount (2)
Dimensions
longest 72cm
Provenance
Chris Boylan, Sydney, Australia
Francois Coppens, Belgium
Footnote
Boomerangs such as the present examples (known as a “number seven” on account of the shape), were primarily crafted by the Tanami desert peoples but circulated widely across central and northern Australia through extensive inland trade networks. While mainly used in combat, they were also effective for bird hunting, as they could knock birds from flocks in flight, making them easier to catch. Like most Aboriginal boomerangs, they did not return when thrown.
For similar please see: The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 1979.206.1667.