Message stick, Churinga or tjuringa reported to have been collected in Central Australia in the 1960's. This small log like message stick is dominated by carved sacred circular designs and then covered in ochre. One side has some stable age cracks present and a piece missing at one end due to erosion and bug work. Length 37 cm, width 5.2 cm

These artifacts are best described as symbolic representations closely associated with the ancestors of the Dreamtime. Young initiates are in fact told that it is an ancestor in visible form. These objects brought life and strength to individuals and fertility from the mythological being whose spirit animated a particular area. Churingas were either personally owned or communal possessions. They were used in sacred ceremonies and were the element that made the ritual most effective and brought the participants into the midst of the other world which inspired and sustained the tribe. When not in use the churinga was hidden in a cave or hut, but the spirit remained close to it giving it still vitality. The tribal churinga ensured perpetuation of plant and animal life needed for the support of people.

When searching more, I found similar examples from Aranda tribes of Central Australia, related to Litjitja the Flying ant, circles being camps, whereas lines represent tracks.

Incised Aboriginal message board from around the 1930's.

Collected in West Australia in the 1920's. This bullroarer is very thin and carved from hardwood. The incised zig zag designs to the front are typical of WA. It has a worn glossy patina. Meas: 38 x 7 cms.

Aboriginal mesage board, incised design on both sides and nice patina with traces of ochre, top condition and no damage. Pre 1960, measures 52CM.

One Austrlian Aboriginal Message stick 8 7/8 inches long, 1 3/4 inches wide, 1/4 inches thick.

Acquired locally from one winter wonders, who are GTFOBISSA (GETTING THE F=== OUT BEFORE IT STARTS SNOWING AGAIN). 8 1/4 inched long 3/4 inches wide, 3/16 inches thick.

Small finely carved bullroarer collected in the Pilbara in the early 1950's. Both sides of this very thin bullroarer have totemic designs incised and red ochre applied overall and has a nice patina from use. Length 17cm.

This large old message board measuring 90cm in length was collected by a miner in the early 1970's. It originates from Laverton which lies on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia. The front of this leaf like board has an incised diamond pattern, the reverse is smoothly adzed. At one end there is a hole cut out, which I would assume was for suspension rather than for use as a bullroarer. The board has a dark colour and has a good patina.

Aboriginal hairpin or message board collected by a policeman in the 1960's in Wiluna on the edge of the Simpson Desert in Western Australia. Both sides of this thin board have an incised fluid diamond design which is typical of boards from the Laverton area which lies south east of Wiluna. It has a dark colour and displays a good patina from handling. Length is 43cm.

THIS CHURINGA IS 30 cm / 11 3/4 INCHES LONG. 4 CM / 1 1/2 INCHES WIDE AT IT'S WIDEST POINT , WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 48 GRAMS ( ACCORDING TO MY KITCHEN SCALES.). AS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTOS IT HAS CHECKS ANS OTHER DAMAGE FROM AGE AND WEATHER. APPEARS TO BE JARRAH, A VERY LOVELY LITTLE PIECE THAT I WOULDN'T MIND KEEPING.

Very large example of an old Aboriginal Bullroarer, collected from Central Australia in the 1950s. Features carved rhythmic totemic designs on both sides. Surface has a glossy patina from age and use with applied red ochres. One end has a woven human hair string attached. Measures approx. 77.5cm or 30.5 inches long by 11cm or 4.5 inches wide. Has a few pale spots and some surface wear to the outer edge. A rare piece offered in excellent collectable condition and without a reserve.

On offer is an old Aboriginal Bullroarer, 8.5" long, 2" wide, made of Mulga wood, or a similar Australian hardwood. Attached to one end, is a length of string, 3' 10" lond, made of human hair. These objects were whirled around the owners head, creating a noise, which was used to keep away bad spirits, and other aboriginals, depending on who was using the Bull Roarer, and why. The object has totemic carvings on each side, consisting of circles, and other patterns. The Bull Roarer is in great condition, and would date to the mid 20th century.

Collected by a geologist in the 1960's in the western desert. Both sides of this large ceremonial board have a complex incised design with red ochre applied. Old patina. Age cracks, and there is a small piece missing at one end. Meas: 82 x 13 cms.

Collected in the central desert in the sixties, this message stick has the typical carving of concentric circles, lines and dots, and red ochre applied. Nice patina. Crack to one side.{ stand not included.} Meas: 22cms.

Collected form the Central Desert Aboriginal people in 1950's it is a round 3D style message stick ,lots of circle work with lines in between. The churinga has 13 main groups of circles which all are interconnected in some way by lines & 1 group of circles at each end also. The Message stick is 10 inches long and between 2 & 2 1/2 inches thick. A few bumps in the wood as expected, no cracks or splits. What is pictured is being sold in AS - Found Condition.

Rare old Aboriginal Message Board, hand shaped and collected from the Western Desert circa 1950s. Features beautifully hand carved totemic tribal circular and banded designs on both sides with traces of applied red ochres. Surface has a good patina from age and use. Measures approx. 50.5cm or 20 inches long. A scarce piece that would make an excellent addition to any collection, offered in pristine condition and without reserve.

You have the opportunity to own a nice Australian Aboriginal Incised Churinga (Tjuringa) that is in good condition with a few age cracks (see photos) in the wood. The largest crack has been stabilized and should not spread any farther. This piece measures approximately 10" High (26 cm) and 2" Wide (5 cm) and INCLUDES the museum quality custom stand see in the photos. This Churinga is from the Early 20th Century (a very early piece) and out of a New Mexico Collection. Traces of the pigment (red ochre) remains in the incising. Churingas are ceremonial items for the Aboriginal with religious significance.

This item was personally collected in the Gibson Desert region of Central Western Australia during the 1960's. It was already in an aged state so would probably predate its collection time by many years. Carved on one side in fine traditional incised lines , with hatching markings on the other. There is a very small piece (chip) missing on one end (see pics). This Message Board is carved from heavy hardwood and measures approx. 610mm (24") in length and is 75mm (3") wide.

A very old Aboriginal Ceremonial Pointing Bone, collected in the 1950's in Alice Springs and purchased from a Government Craft Shop. Fashioned into a sharp point from what appears to be Kangaroo bone with hand woven human hair string and spinifex resin grip still attached. Edge has retained its sharpness despite its age. Measures approx. 25cm or 9.75 inches long. Offered in excellent condition with no reserve.

Old Aboriginal Men's Ceremonial Dance Board, hand painted in pigments with traditional Water Dreaming designs and collected from Yuendemu circa 1960s - 1970s. Surface has linear diagonal carvings and a good patina from age and wear. Eye catching piece ready for display. Measures approx. 52cm or 20.5 inches long. One end has split through 1/3 of the length of the board and large areas of the pigment have worn through. The edges have splintered slightly from wear, and there is a section of white discolouration on one side. Otherwise this item is in very good condition and is a must for any collection, offered at no reserve.

An old Western Australian Aboriginal hair pin. Carved from hard jarrah wood and decorated with incised linear motif on the fron surface. Worn on the back of the head as an adornment. . Dark old glossy patina, with a couple of small ant holes; in excellent condition. Length: 46 cm or 18 inches

Carved both sides, in the traditional carvings of concentric circles, arcs, and lines, red ochre all over. Slightly curved in it's form. Small crack to top. Western desert. Meas: 32 x 4 inches.

Aboriginal message stick or clapping stick, South Australia / Central Australia Fashioned from hard wood, decorated with meandering designs carved with possum tooth. Covered in red pigment. length 32 cm

Very rare aboriginal artifact, a Cylcon. The use of such item is a mystery since only two were ever recorded within rituals. It seems although they have the same role as Churingas.

Condition : excellent condition, with one minor chip (circled in red) for this about 20 cm long Cylcon. It has also remains of an old label as shown on pics 3. No useful provenance, nor collecting site unfortunately.

Background : As I said, it seems they had similar ritual use to Churingas. Churingas are best described as symbolic representations closely associated with the ancestors of the Dreamtime. Young initiates are in fact told that it is an ancestor in visible form. These objects brought life and strength to individuals and fertility from the mythological being whose spirit animated a particular area. Churingas were either personally owned or communal possessions. They were used in sacred ceremonies and were the element that made the ritual most effective and brought the participants into the midst of the other world which inspired and sustained the tribe. When not in use the churinga was hidden in a cave or hut, but the spirit remained close to it giving it still vitality. The tribal churinga ensured perpetuation of plant and animal life needed for the support of people.

Cylindro-conical stones or cylcons have described from Eastern, Central Northern Australia (Black 1942; Kamminga and Allen 1973:11; McCarthy 1976:66, McCourt 1975:149-152). McCarthy (1976:68) has suggested that cylcons had ritual significance and that the damage seen on some forms is associated with ritual destruction. While this may been the case in other areas, the evidence suggests that the stone artifacts which may be classified as cylcons, found in the region between the Adelaide and Alligator Rivers east of Darwin N.T., exhibit a more complex life history involving secondary use and reduction. The presence of extensive and varied use wear on the artifacts, combined with observations of their use by contemporary Aboriginal groups, indicates that these forms are connected in a more complex manner. Here we propose an example that has undergo several stages of reduction.

Aboriginal sharmans .nosepice. and bone tool from a museam . in vic. more info to winning bidder. sizes 20. 32 cm approx. used patina. cen australia. eary to mid 20th cen.

This elegant example was collected in 1930 and has a beatiful patina from use and age. It is incised both sides (one side more than the other) and it is very fine. It measures 36 cm in length and would be a worthy addition to any collection.

Large old message board or tjuringa collected in the 1950's by a geologist in the Tanami desert, Western Australia. Both sides of the board have a very detailed carved pattern and are coated in red ochre. Length 74.5cm or 25.25 inches, width is 8cm or 3.25 inches.

An old ochred and weathered churinga, from the Central Desert region of Australia. In Aboriginal culture these sacred boards were stored in secret places, and brought out only when particular ceremonies were to take place. They contain information concerning the tribe's history, totemic symbolism, and the mythic 'dream-time' of Aboriginal pre-history. There were strict rules regarding who in the tribe was entitled to see or touch the churinga, and the elders who interpreted the information from them were responsible for passing this knowledge on to selected people in future generations. At some time during it's use this board split in half ... this clearly happened while it was still in Aboriginal hands, as the ochre with which the board is coated is also on the inner surfaces of the split. The two ends were notched, and wired together. No glue was used, so there is some movement between the two halves. Length: 59.5cm ( nearly 23 1/2" ).

The churinga has an interesting provenance: It was one of two owned by the honourable Lionel Tennyson, grandson of the poet and himself later to become the third Lord Tennyson, in 1928. He was not noted as a collector of ethnographic items, but was a famous cricketer, having been named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1914. He was Captain of the English Cricket Team in the test against Australia at the Oval in 1921, and it is most likely that the two churinga were a gift to him from the Australian team at that time. In a recent biography - Lionel Tennyson : Regency Buck, ' It was often said that he did not behave in the manner expected from a peer of the realm. On the field, he was a charismatic team captain and hard-hitting batsman. Off the field his appetite for the high life, substantial gambling losses and relentless womanising would have been a godsend to today's tabloids.'