Spencer & Gillen

A journey through Aboriginal Australia

Wooden Dish

Physical Description

Softwood bowl, fluted and red-ochred on inside and outside, with shiny dark pink ochre (often associated with ceremonial activity). Two splits at one end; one repaired with a double length of human-hair string (very rare) & then coated with red ochre. Notches have been cut at these points, another unusual feature, but also seen in similar mends on other bowls. Mark left by original rectangular paper label affixed to inside base, shows colour change since object was consigned from Melbourne.

Primary Comments

Wooden dish. Local name - 'pitchi'. Made of light wood, oblong with rounded end in plan, semicircular in profile. Both surfaces decorated with broad shallow longitudinal grooves. The bowl is coloured pink inside and outside. Two cracks, at the same end, have been tied to prevent spreading.

Images

Rights: Manchester Museum

Object Details

Date Made
Circa 1901
Region
Central Australia
State
Northern Territory

Subjects

Language Groups
Places

Institution

Institution
Manchester Museum
Registration
O1035-1

Classification

Ceremony Type
Initiation
Primary Subject
Tool
Secondary Subject
Implement, wood

Physical Properties

Materials
Wood
Other Measurements
Dimensions: Length of bowl: 432 mm. Width: 178 mm. Thickness of wood: 5 mm. Height: 118 mm on one side and 95 mm on other.; ca. 100 mm deep. Bands of incisions approx 10 mm wide, appear at 85mm from one end, then at 215 mm; then at 310 mm (i.e. approx 110 mm from other end). See sketch. Hair-string mend is 25 mm wide. Weight: Greater than 200 g, exceeding my scale.