I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky

[Jason Anstey]

Hi there

the spear thrower is called a woomera, good pick up.

Cheers

Jason

[katana]

Hi Tim,
nice pieces. The boomerang is unlikely to be a hunting type. Hunting boomerangs are usually heavy-ish, the 'limbs' are not symmetrical and do not return to the thrower. Generally speaking the returnable type are for sport and fun (even amongst the Aborigines) and was developed from the hunting type which, in turn, evolved from from the 'throwing stick',
The 'aero foil' edge allows the boomerang to be thrown more accurately and the 'spin' generated increases the 'impact power' (over a throwing stick/club).

The spear thrower is typical Australasian in style, and has already been mentioned is a woomera. Spear throwers are very wide spread (world wide) but design features vary from region to region (some are exclusive to certain tribes or people.

Unfortunately many of these boomerangs and woomera's, although Aboriginal made, are for the tourist market and unless it has good provenance or 'good age' patina. It is likely that these will be placed in the 'tourist type' even though they are made to 'proper specification' by authentic people.

Pictures below show early Australasian hunting sticks (the similarity to certain African throwing knives is obvious) and the hunting types

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks for the knowledge on these matters.