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ID #SA1217292
FOR SALE
£595
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Rare Aboriginal / First Nation Childs Hunting Set, C1890
For sale by Curious Antiques
for sale €696     $756
£595

Curious Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jun 2015
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Id #SA1217292
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Rare Aboriginal / First Nation Childs Hunting Set, C1890

19th century
For Sale by Curious Antiques
Description

A very rare late 19th century child's Australian Aboriginal/first nation hunting set,c1890. I have been collecting in this area for over 40 years and I have never seen a child's version of traditional hunting tools. Beautifully hand/chipped carved they are lovely scaled down versions (except the boomerang which I am guessing was small enough for a child to handle). The set comprises the following:

- Nulla-Nulla which is a traditional hardwood club or throwing implement.

- Woomera, a wooden spear throwing device that acts as an extension of the arm.

- Malka, or traditional parrying shield.

- Boomerang.

The detail is lovely and follows the traditional full size design. For instance the Woomera has the wood or bone spike /hook which helps keep the spear in place while throwing. Overall condition is good with no obvious defects and the wood has great colour/patina following many years of use. Please refer to the detailed photographs and feel free to contact me if you would like to view the item or have any questions.

Price includes FREE UK delivery.

Size: Nulla 26cm x 2.5 x 2.5; Shield 27.5cm x 7.5 x 4; Woomera 26.5 x 5.5 x 1; Boomerang 50 cm x 5 x 0.5;combined weight 0.55kg

Physical Dimensions
Height
50cm (19.69")
Width
5cm (1.97")
Depth
0.5cm (0.20")
Declaration

Curious Antiques has dated this Aboriginal Wooden Hunting Set to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1217292
Dealers Notes

Curious Antiques specialises in sourcing fine, rare and unusual antiques and curiosities. We are passionate about customer satisfaction and will do all we can to ensure you are happy and in the unlikely event you are not offer a no questions asked returns policy. We accept payment via paypal, bank transfer, cheque and cash.

Description
A very rare late 19th century child's Australian Aboriginal/first nation hunting set,c1890.
“
I have been collecting in this area for over 40 years and I have never seen a child's version of traditional hunting tools.
Curious Antiques

Beautifully hand/chipped carved they are lovely scaled down versions (except the boomerang which I am guessing was small enough for a child to handle). The set comprises the following:

fig 1. A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club.
fig 1. Rare Aboriginal / First Nation Childs Hunting Set, C1890

Nulla-Nulla which is a traditional hardwood club or throwing implement.

Woomera, a wooden spear throwing device that acts as an extension of the arm.

Malka, or traditional parrying shield.

Boomerang.

The detail is lovely and follows the traditional full size design. For instance the Woomera has the wood or bone spike /hook which helps keep the spear in place while throwing. Overall condition is good with no obvious defects and the wood has great colour/patina following many years of use. Please refer to the detailed photographs and feel free to contact me if you would like to view the item or have any questions.

Price includes FREE UK delivery.

Size: Nulla 26cm x 2.5 x 2.5; Shield 27.5cm x 7.5 x 4; Woomera 26.5 x 5.5 x 1; Boomerang 50 cm x 5 x 0.5;combined weight 0.55kg

Height
50cm (19.69")
Width
5cm (1.97")
Depth
0.5cm (0.20")
Date of Manufacture

Curious Antiques has dated this Aboriginal Wooden Hunting Set to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1217292
Curious Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jun 2015
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Curious Antiques Profile Page

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A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club.
1 / 7
Archive I A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club.

Rare Aboriginal / First Nation Childs Hunting Set, C1890

Archive II A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View II
Archive III A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View III
Archive IV A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View IV
Archive V A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View V
Archive VI A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View VI
Archive VII A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club. View VII
Enlarged Archival View

Curious Antiques
Telephone 07795 237 189
Location
Curious Antiques
Timeline Antiques Centre
Midland Road
North Walsham
Norfolk
NR28 9JR
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/curious
Verified Since Jun 2015
Items For Sale 138
Items Sold 373
Curious Antiques
Verified Since Jun 2015
View Dealer Info
Location: Curious Antiques, Timeline Antiques Centre, Midland Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JR, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/curious
Verified
Jun 2015
For Sale
138
Sold
373
A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club.
Rare Aboriginal / First Nation Childs Hunting Set, c1890
Ref: SA1217292
A four-piece set of dark hand-carved wooden Indigenous Australian hunting items, including a boomerang, small shield, spear thrower, and club.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectEthnographic Objects
  • Period19th century
  • StyleIndigenous Australian
  • MaterialHardwood, Plant Fibre, Natural Resin
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsHand-carved hardwood, Curved boomerang profile, Integrated shield handle, Lashed spear thrower peg
  • SizeH 50 cm (20 in) x W 5 cm (2 in) x D 0.5 cm (0 in)

This rare nineteenth-century child's Australian Aboriginal hunting set originates from the late Victorian period, c1890. The four-piece collection comprises a traditional hand-carved dark brown hardwood boomerang, a small parrying shield with an integrated central handle, a woomera spear-throwing device featuring a lashed bone or wood peg at the top, and a cylindrical nulla-nulla club with lighter exposed timber grain running down its length. Each item displays hand-chipped carved wooden surfaces with a rich patina developed through age and handling, alongside visible natural grain variations and pale weathering marks across the timber. The largest item measures 50 cm high, 5 cm wide, and 0.5 cm deep. In a modern interior, this ethnographic set suits display within a gentleman's library, study, or hallway cabinet. The individual pieces sit upright or flat on a bookshelf, within a glazed display case, or on a dedicated collector's surface alongside books and artifacts. The subdued dark brown tones and organic textures integrate well with traditional or eclectic interior schemes, bringing historical craftsmanship and cultural heritage to domestic spaces.

FAQs

Indigenous Australian wooden artefacts from the late 19th century are traditionally hand-carved using local dense hardwoods, reflecting regional tool-making traditions and functional design.

Craftsmen typically utilised native timbers such as eucalyptus, mulga, or acacia, often incorporating natural plant fibres, animal sinew, and tree resins for binding.

Authentic period pieces display evidence of hand-tooled carving marks, natural age patination, and organic surface wear consistent with historical handling and environmental exposure.

These items are frequently mounted on bespoke minimalist display stands or framed within shallow display cases to highlight their sculptural silhouettes on shelving or console surfaces.

Keep the timber in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight and heat, using a soft dry cloth for dusting and applying conservation-grade microcrystalline wax sparingly.
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