AUSTRALIAN SHIELDS

[billevans]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I WILL START WITH SHIELDS FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA REFERRED TO AS WUNDA SHIELDS. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN USUALLY RANGE IN SIZE FROM 81 CM. TO 70CM. LONG AND 14 CM TO 15 CM .WIDE. MOST HAVE CARVED DESIGNS ON BOTH SIDES NONE OF THE GOOD OLD ONES HAVE POKERWORK= (BURNED IN DESIGNS) USUALLY OF A HARD RED WOOD ( IT MAY BE CALLED BEANWOOD) SOMETIMES WITH PIGMENTS ADDED. THIS IS SCANT INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD TO IT OR CORRECT ANY MISTAKES. ENJOY
PICTURES 2 AND 3 SHOW FRONT AND BACK OF ONE EXAMPLE COLLECTED IN THE 1920'S ITS 69.5 CM.LONG, PICTURES 3 AND 4 SHOW FRONT AND BACK OF ANOTHER.

I believe that beanwood is a term often used regarding the soft wood shields of Central Australia, not hardwood shields from Western Australia.