Lot 78
COOLAMON
CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Auction: 26 November 2025 at 14:00 GMT
Description
carved wood and pigment, elongated oval form with rounded ends and concave interior, the exterior finely fluted along its length and decorated with a white painted motif of concentric circles with linking bands over a red ochre ground, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
70.6cm long
Provenance
Francois Coppens, Belgium, acquired on the European art market
Footnote
The coolamon is a multipurpose wooden vessel used for carrying food, water, or babies, and for gathering plants. Each one was carved from a single piece of wood, then shaped with heat to form its gentle curve. The surface was often decorated with patterns that reflected local traditions and stories. Beyond its everyday use, the coolamon also carried symbolic meaning, representing care, nourishment, and connection to the land.