Provenance
The Artist, created at Milingimbi,
East Arnhem Land
Milingimbi Methodist Mission,
Northern Territory
Gardens Museum and
Art Gallery, Darwin
George W. Spence, New South Wales
Spence-Gill Collection, University of
Wyoming, United States of America
Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s,
Melbourne, 28 June 1999, lot 127
Private Collection, Melbourne,
acquired from the above
Joel Fine Art, Melbourne,
6 May 2007, lot 8
The Luczo Family Collection,
United States of America,
acquired from the above
Aboriginal Art from the Luczo Family
Collection, Deutscher and Hackett,
Melbourne, 19 October 2016, lot 73
The Martin Rae Collection,
New York, acquired from the above
East Arnhem Land
Milingimbi Methodist Mission,
Northern Territory
Gardens Museum and
Art Gallery, Darwin
George W. Spence, New South Wales
Spence-Gill Collection, University of
Wyoming, United States of America
Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s,
Melbourne, 28 June 1999, lot 127
Private Collection, Melbourne,
acquired from the above
Joel Fine Art, Melbourne,
6 May 2007, lot 8
The Luczo Family Collection,
United States of America,
acquired from the above
Aboriginal Art from the Luczo Family
Collection, Deutscher and Hackett,
Melbourne, 19 October 2016, lot 73
The Martin Rae Collection,
New York, acquired from the above
Description
This impressive Ganalbiŋu Mokuy figure features
a unique hooked arm and yam-like designs on its
legs and torso. It is possible that the arm once held
a small dillybag, eluding to the primary purpose
of this type of Mokuy: to provide sustenance,
including yams, to other, more significant Mokuy.
These Mokuy, typically decorated in chevron
patterning, are receptacles for the spirits of the
dead. The large triangular-shaped head shows
minimal surface modelling apart from slightly
recessed eyes. Typical of sculpted Mokuy from
Milingimbi, the legs are turned outward, with the
knees shown at the sides.