Australia, Kimberley, Western Australia
1930s
Pearl shell, ochre
Height: 7¼ inches (18.4 cm); Width: 6 inches (15.2 cm)
Provenance: Jonathan Saussehrd, Australia
This is among the larger longka longka of its type, the broad oval shell providing a generous field for engraving that the maker has used to full effect. The geometric design is executed in deeply cut grooves — noticeably deeper than the fine incision typical of many Kimberley shells — producing a relief quality in which the raised shell ground between the lines reads as an active element of the composition. The pattern combines maze forms, chevrons, and nested angular elements in a dense, interlocking arrangement that covers the face with no unworked areas.
The depth and confidence of the engraving on this shell indicate an experienced hand working with clear intent, and the large format of the shell itself would have made it a prestigious object within the exchange networks through which longka longka circulated across Aboriginal Australia. The 1930s date and Jonathan Saussehrd provenance place it within the period of active collection of Kimberley material in Australia, and its size and engraving depth distinguish it within the group.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Australia, Kimberley, Western Australia
1930s
Pearl shell, ochre
Height: 7¼ inches (18.4 cm); Width: 6 inches (15.2 cm)
Provenance: Jonathan Saussehrd, Australia
This is among the larger longka longka of its type, the broad oval shell providing a generous field for engraving that the maker has used to full effect. The geometric design is executed in deeply cut grooves — noticeably deeper than the fine incision typical of many Kimberley shells — producing a relief quality in which the raised shell ground between the lines reads as an active element of the composition. The pattern combines maze forms, chevrons, and nested angular elements in a dense, interlocking arrangement that covers the face with no unworked areas.
The depth and confidence of the engraving on this shell indicate an experienced hand working with clear intent, and the large format of the shell itself would have made it a prestigious object within the exchange networks through which longka longka circulated across Aboriginal Australia. The 1930s date and Jonathan Saussehrd provenance place it within the period of active collection of Kimberley material in Australia, and its size and engraving depth distinguish it within the group.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
