Provenance
The Artist, created at Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory
Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory
Blaxland Gallery, Myer
Grace Bros, Sydney
Private Collection, acquired from the above in 1978
Aboriginal Fine Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 9 November 2005, lot 2
Private Collection
Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s Melbourne, 26 & 27 July 2010, lot 199
The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory
Blaxland Gallery, Myer
Grace Bros, Sydney
Private Collection, acquired from the above in 1978
Aboriginal Fine Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 9 November 2005, lot 2
Private Collection
Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s Melbourne, 26 & 27 July 2010, lot 199
The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Description
This unique double-sided figure has been recess carved from a single length of wood. Its tall, slender proportion maintains the material quality of the Ironwood branch Illortamini has expertly crafted while suggesting the shape and form of the Pukumani poles that were a precursor to figurative Tiwi carving.
This sculpture bears representations of the two primary creation ancestors, Purrukuparli and Bima (also known as Wai-ai). Illortamini is likely to have burnt a quantity of yellow ochre in a fire to procure the deep orange ochre used to decorate both figures. Only subtle variations, such as face markings and the size and shape of the chest, separate their appearance.