Spear thrower (woomera), Victoria. Elongated blade of plano-convex section, tapering to form an elongated handle of circular section, old glossy patina. Carved and engraved hardwood (with custom stand). Provenance: Bonhams & Goodman, 4 October 2005, lot 1175. Private Collection, Sydney. Approx. length 19.69 in. x 1.38 in.
- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
This item has been included into following indexes:
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Australian Aboriginal artefacts