Artist: Artist Once Known | Title: Tiwi Ceremonial Spears (Pair) | Year: c.1980s | Medium: Natural Earth Pigments on Carved Wood | Dimensions: 208 cm & 210 cm
ARTWORK STORY
Tiwi ceremonial spears are a special form of elaborately carved and painted spears used in ceremonial display rather than as functional weapons or implements.
This ceremonial work is used both in the pukamani-mortuary ceremony and the Kularma -sacred yam increase and young men’s initiation.
Ceremonial spears are called Numwariyaka and the ochre designs are called Jilamara. Part of the Jialamara are the minga which are rows of painted lines and dots applied to ceremonial regalia and these are painted with a pwata-wooden comb.
The ochre paints are red: Yaringa; yellow: arikuningah; white: titiyangini; and black: tuniwini.
ARTWORK STORY
Tiwi ceremonial spears are a special form of elaborately carved and painted spears used in ceremonial display rather than as functional weapons or implements.
This ceremonial work is used both in the pukamani-mortuary ceremony and the Kularma -sacred yam increase and young men’s initiation.
Ceremonial spears are called Numwariyaka and the ochre designs are called Jilamara. Part of the Jialamara are the minga which are rows of painted lines and dots applied to ceremonial regalia and these are painted with a pwata-wooden comb.
The ochre paints are red: Yaringa; yellow: arikuningah; white: titiyangini; and black: tuniwini.