ARTIST UNKNOWN, WEST ARNHEM LAND

Painted in Western Arnhem Land in 1948
Collected at Oenpelli on The American - Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land
Charles P. Mountford Collection
Jerome Gould, Los Angeles
Private collection, USA

Mountford, Charles P., Records of the American-Australian Scientific Expedition of Arnhem Land, 1 Art Myth and Symbolism, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1956, p.237, pl.71 A
Buehler, A., Barrow, T. and Mountford, Charles P., The Art of the South Seas including Australia and New Zealand, Crown Publishers Inc, New York, 1962, p.214 illus. as "Bark Painting of Aboriginal spearing wallaby"

The bark is in excellent condition for a work of this period. It has eight small drill holes in it for suspension and has a knarled surface with several cracks. The surface has suffered small areas of pigment loss though appears in a stable and relatively unfaded condition
"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."

This important bark painting was formerly in the collection of South Australian anthropologist Charles P. Mountford and collected on the ground-breaking American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land in 1948. At the end of this expedition, the bark paintings collected were distributed to the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society in Washington, and by the Commonwealth of Australia amongst the leading state and national art galleries in Australia. The expedition was planned, organised and lead by Mr Charles P. Mountford, then a member of staff of the Department of Information, and was at the time the largest expedition ever organised in the history of Australian research. It is a sign of significance that this iconic image was selected by Mountford for his personal collection.