DJOMA

Painted at Milingimbi, Crocodile Islands, Central Arnhem Land
Private collection

The bark is in a good and stable condition overall and has three banded woodedn supports attched to the reverse. Two cracks extending from the top of the bark have been restored and thin strips of wood have been applied to the reverse. The pigments on the front of the bark are generally in a stable condition though there are small areas with pigment missing particuarly in the white pigments. There is a fine crack approximately 25 cm long just to the left of the centre in the upper register of the bark
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The label attached to the reverse reads: "This is one of the dances from the sacred ceremony at which young men are initiated, and tells in song and dance how the Creation sisters camped beside the well Yurlurgurr (sic) and made a fire with fire sticks, intending to cook fish, animals and birds which they had killed in their travels over the mainland. Everything they placed on the fire, however, came to life and... into the well, thereby becoming sacred. This dance is perfomed by the old men only, wooden totems pointed at each other (sic) are carried by the old men to represent the mangrove fish.They are made in this way instead of in the form of fish so that the uninitiated men will not recognise the totem"