OLD WALTER TJAMPITJINPA

Painted at Papunya in mid/late 1972
Private collection, Brisbane
Private collection, Melbourne
Sotheby's, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 9 July 2001, lot 194
Private collection, USA

Bardon, G. and Bardon J., Papunya, A Place made after the Story; The Beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement, The Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, 2004, p.186, Ptg.96

The board is housed in a minimalist box frame. There are pigment losses along the lower edges and right hand corner and there is an area where the pigment has lifted in the centre of the painting about 15cm from the lower margin. There is considerable flaking to the surface. It is recommened that the painting be stabilised by a conservator. Please refer to the online illustration.
"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."

Geoffrey Bardon interprets this painting's imagery as follows: "The dominating concentric circles is the special waterhole and the surrounding half-circles broken by undulating lines are the water mark on the earth itself from desert rain; the rain creates the pattern on the sand about the waterhole. At the bottom right of the design is a heavily disguised Ceremonial Man, dating the work mid - to - late 1972, also there are no ceremonial objects included. The featured brown line centre to bottom left has an unknown importance. The site is most likely Kalipinypa."