Aboriginal Shields

The incised designs on the shields of south-eastern Australia have as their main feature a diamond figure set in a field of herringbone, and parallel chevron and diagonal flutings; one of the latter elements alone may be used to cover the decorated surface. The diamond figure appears in several forms, including the concentric and multiple lozenge varieties. It may be incised in rows or it may be distributed freely and in no set order in the field; it is often so placed that the flutings composing each side also form one side of another concentric diamond, thus producing neat and complementary rows—an extremely attractive arrangement.

The elegant bow-shaped shields that have these designs are principally ornate examples of the work of the aboriginal craftsman; the incised patterns suit perfectly the general form of the weapon. The surface of many shields, particularly those of the Murray River, is divided into panels separated by plain longitudinal strips of the smooth surface, which may be transverse or diagonal or may form a cross within a panel. The dividing strips are often painted red, and the bas-relief grooved pattern white, forming a simple but effective contrast. In the variously shaped panels may be incised fluted concentric diamonds, four half concentric diamond figures with the apex of each in the centre, concentric triangles, herringbone and chevron grooves ; on the one shield each panel may contain one or a number of different figures. Transverse rows of lozenges or hexagonal figures zigzag and sinuous lines, and longitudinal grooves may also divide the panels. Sometimes the latter are arranged at different angles and without dividing lines, an example being the herringbone in transverse or vertical strips.

The patterns, usually symmetrical in principle, but-not always in detail, are ingenious in their wealth of new arrangements, a feature of Australian aboriginal art which illustrates well the ample scope for the individuality of the artist. The designs are pleasing to the eye, and are not grotesque or exaggerated in any way, the basic idea of the carver appearing to be to work neatly and with restraint, but at the same time to introduce an original variation in the composition of rhythmic elements. Thus, by using portions of the concentric diamond, such as repeated triangulate, elbow-shaped, and U-shaped figures, and by the division of each row of large lozenges by cross-grooving so that a number of small lozenges are produced, the artist is able to introduce his own ideas while still adhering to the traditional designs.

On some of the broader shields of the Murray River the stylized figure of a human being, snake or lizard appears as the central feature of the design and the rest of the surface is filled with variously angled flutings. On some specimens a deeply cut conventionalized design has an additional pattern of flutings superimposed upon it. The wood of which these shields are made is hard and of fine texture, and so well suited for carving; from it is produced some of the finest artistic work of the aborigines.

Little is known about the meaning of these intricate south-eastern designs, but they probably had a similar significance to that of the Central Australian tjurunga designs, that is, they represent a record of the myths about totemic animals and spiritual ancestors, and each pattern probably belonged to a clan or local group. The concentric diamonds and other figures would thus represent animals, ancestors and other sacred things featured in the myths.

The decoration of the softwood Gulmari shields of Queensland is mainly by painting and the designs are often very crude. One shield bears an incised concentric diamond pattern over which bands of red and black have been applied. On a Glenormiston variety appears a conventional human figure defined by parallel lines of black, red and white, with the brown of the wood between each color. The broad, black, transverse and longitudinal bands on a white ground on some specimens provide striking contrasts, as do other patterns in which masses of color are introduced.