Art centre notes: Made from natural raffia. The dyes used on the raffia are commercial and colour fast. The findings are sterling silver plate.
225182194930
Kunjuri (Rainforest Shield)
Traditional shields were carved from a single piece of timber cut from side of the buttress root of a rainforest fig-tree. The kidney shaped shields are unique to the rainforest Bama of Far North Queensland. They were decorated with clan, totem or moiety designs using natural ochres and a water, fat or blood binder.
Shields were primarily used for deflecting spears in tribal fighting in conjunction with large rainforest swords.
Shields were usually made and painted by senior men and were a significant personal possession of adult males.
225182228504
Kunjuri (Rainforest Shield)
Traditional shields were carved from a single piece of timber cut from side of the buttress root of a rainforest fig-tree. The kidney shaped shields are unique to the rainforest Bama of Far North Queensland. They were decorated with clan, totem or moiety designs using natural ochres and a water, fat or blood binder.
Shields were primarily used for deflecting spears in tribal fighting in conjunction with large rainforest swords.
Shields were usually made and painted by senior men and were a significant personal possession of adult males.
225182263616
Kakan (Black Palm) Basket Weaving
This design shows how the bottom part of a black palm basket is woven. My grandmothers and aunties used to make them. They cut off the young palm leaves in the centre, stripped and scrapped them. Then they would put the strips in freshwater to make them soft and keep them straight for weaving.
225182264669
Mossman River Design
The Mossman River is very important to me and my family. Laurence, my partner and the father of our 5 children, is one of the Traditional Owners of this area. We both grew up along the river and Laurence’s grandparents used to live in a hut next to the river. In the hot season, we used to camp there with our families. Laurence would teach me and later our children how to dive for turtle and fish. We would cross the river to hunt and collect bush food. Back at the camp, we would make fire, cook our damper and fish in an earth oven and share with our families.
225182268200
Kunjuri (Rainforest Shield)
Traditional shields were carved from a single piece of timber cut from side of the buttress root of a rainforest fig-tree. The kidney shaped shields are unique to the rainforest Bama of Far North Queensland. They were decorated with clan, totem or moiety designs using natural ochres and a water, fat or blood binder.
Shields were primarily used for deflecting spears in tribal fighting in conjunction with large rainforest swords.
Shields were usually made and painted by senior men and were a significant personal possession of adult males.
225182268142
Kunjuri (Rainforest Shield)
Traditional shields were carved from a single piece of timber cut from side of the buttress root of a rainforest fig-tree. The kidney shaped shields are unique to the rainforest Bama of Far North Queensland. They were decorated with clan, totem or moiety designs using natural ochres and a water, fat or blood binder.
Shields were primarily used for deflecting spears in tribal fighting in conjunction with large rainforest swords.
Shields were usually made and painted by senior men and were a significant personal possession of adult males.









