Lot 39
WOOMERA
RABY BAY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Auction: 26 November 2025 at 14:00 GMT
Description
carved wood, of oval form, with deep linear carved geometric decoration, gum resin handle and possum tooth hook, with a lightly carved and ink filled inscription reading:
"…S.J. Rakes, Raby Bay 2 May 1901
raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
53.5cm long
Provenance
Acquired in situ at Raby Bay, Queensland, 2nd May 1901
Francois Coppens, Belgium, acquired on the European art market
Footnote
Aboriginal communities throughout Australia traditionally utilised spear throwers for both hunting and combat. To use the device, the handle at its lower end was gripped while a small, hooklike extension at the upper end engaged with the hollow base of a long, lightweight spear. This tool functioned by effectively extending the user’s arm, providing a mechanical advantage that boosted the spear’s speed and throwing range. While spear throwers could allow a hunter or warrior to strike a target from up to eighty yards away, users typically aimed to get as close as possible to maximise the force and precision of their throw.