This old aboriginal churinga measuring 32.5cm by 7cm is a smaller hand held object that would of been part of a man's personal collection of sacred objects. It has a detailed circular front and reverse with a old patina and solid traces of pigment.

I have for sale a Central Australian Aboriginal Stone Churinga. It is inscribed on both sides but one side is rather worn. I have a drawn a rough image of what it looks like when caught in the light as my images don't show it that well. It has ochre worked through it. Bought in 1964 by my mother in Alice Springs, as written on the bottom. I don't know a great deal about it as it comes from her estate. It could be a tourist piece. It measures 12cm by 6cm

This stunning round stone churinga comes from the Central Desert. It was collected in the 1950's and would have spent some time in the field prior to collection. The design engraved is a refined circular motif to both sides with remnants of red ochre. It measures 10cm x 11.5cm.

This large wooden churinga was collected in the Central Desert in the 1950's. It has a simple fluid design consisting of circular and line motifs which are deeply carved to both sides. The surface has a dry ochre coating with a good patina. It measures 83cm x 11cm.

This small churinga has a nice oval shape and has a simple design which fills both sides. It has been coated in red ochre and has a handling patina. It is quite thin and light and measures 14.5cm x 7cm.

A large and fine wooden churinga collected in the Western Desert in the 1950's. Both sides have an organic diamond design engraved and then a red ochre coating. The surface has a rich dark patina. The board measures 108cm x 10cm.

This oval shaped stone churinga was collected in Central Australia in the 1960's and would have been used in rain ceremonies. The surface of the stone is deeply pitted on both sides which would have been achieved over time and exposure. It has a water design painted with earth pigments to ones side which has muted with age. It measures 20cm x 15cm.

This wooden churinga is especially nice. What makes it so is it's form and design. It has an organic leaf shape with a highly unusual pattern engraved. I have only seen this design on one other churinga I own - I have included a picture of it. Please note the stone for refernce is the last image. The surface of this piece has been rubbed with ochre and has a nice patina. It does have an old repair which looks like it was a crack that ran the length of the piece. It is hardly noticeable to the naked eye but is most evident under flashlight. The board was part of a collection put together in the 1960's and measures 53cm x 12cm.

On offer is a rare old and weathered Churinga from Central Australia. It has Pyro designs on it and would date from early to mid 20th Century.It has a slight curve on it and is very unusual in both design and shape.A really lovely old piece and would most certainly enhance anyones collection of Artifacts.On the back are three stable cracks going along the length of this piece. A good opportunity to buy something of interesting rarity.It is 43cm long

This wooden churinga has a very fine and complex design engraved to both sides. The surface overall has a varied patina with a red ochre coating. It was collected in the 1940's and measures 41cm x 7.5cm.

This is a fine Central Desert churinga. It has a great surface - in areas having a dry and encrusted patina and in other areas quite glossy and smooth. The carving and form are simple and elegant. The piece is old and would easily date to the early 20thC. Hopefully the photos give a hint of the age and quality of the piece. It measures 46cm in length and one end has a small stable crack.

A perfectly composed and very fine design has been engraved to both sides of this stone. The overall elements are loose and organic but the circles are tight and precise. It has an elegant form and the design is highlighted with infill of ochre against the smooth and polished stone. It was collected in the 1950's but would date to much earlier. It measures 19.5cm in length x 6cm wide.

This sacred stone was given to a resident of Alice Springs in the 1950's. Nice deep carvings, of concentric wavy lines, infilled with bright red ochre decorate both sides of this small personal churinga. Used condition. Meas: 7cms diam. 1cm thick.

This large and striking stone churinga measures 35.5cm x 19cm at it's widest which is very large for a stone example. It has a nice elongated shape and has been meticulously engraved with an elaborate design to both sides. One side has 'Grasshopper' written which I was told was the totem it represented. The surface has been coated with ochre and there are a few very small edge chips. A beautiful piece!

The surface of this large wooden churinga is covered in finely engraved designs. It measures 72.5cm x 13.5cm and is the perfect size for display. It has been coated in red ochre and has a good patina. There is a small chip to an edge near the top.

A large and striking message board originating from the Western Desert. Carved from a hardwood and decorated with a geometric design. The reverse has been very nicely adzed and the overall surface is dry with a red ochre coating. It would date to the early 20thC. It measures 121cm in length and has a few stable age cracks at each end.

A beautiful wooden churinga originating from the Central Desert. Both sides have an unique and elegant design engraved. The wood has attained a dark colour with age and the carving retains its orginal ochre. A striking object. It measures 19.5cm in length.

This small nut shaped churinga was collected in the Central Desert in the 1960's. It is smaller than other message sticks I have had but I assume it has the same function. The surface has been engraved with traditional design and has traces of ochre. It measures 7.5cm in height.

This extraordinary wooden churinga originates from the Karajarri people in the Kimberley of Western Australia. It has a wonderful wide form with a superbly crafted geometric design that is encompassed by the shape of the piece. The reverse has been adzed and there is a good patina with traces of ochre overall. It measures 60cm by 16cm.

For sale you have an old and truly beautiful Western Australian Aboriginal churinga or message board, carved from hardwood, 42cm in length, flat-convex shape, in great strong condition, good patina from use and handling, still retaining a good amount of its original red-ochre decoration. Please note the very fine, deep and elegant carvings on both sides of this excellent example, I really hope that pictures will do some justice, please don't hesitate to ask for larger images!

Provenance: private collection in Western Australia. The previous owner aquired a large number of Aboriginal artefacts in 1971 in Wiluna, central WA, from an old lady who had acquired these artefacts over the years, starting the collection very early in her life. Metal stand not included.

This impressive large stone churinga is carved on both sides and has lovely worn and handled surface. It is large but still has a fine quality because of the thin nature of the stone. It was collected in the 1960's in Central Australia. It measures 33cm by 26cm by roughly 1.5cm in thickness and wieghs approx 2.4kgs.

The Bull roarer measures 30 cm long 7 cm wide. It is decorated with carved symbols on both sides. The string is made of human hair.Made of Desert hardwood.

Fine carved lines creating diamond and triangular shaped designs decorate both sides of this old churinga. The surface is worn and smooth from generations of use and remnants of red ochre prevail. Dates to the early 1900's, collected in Western Austalia in the 1940's. Hardwood. [.5cm thick] Meas: 30x5cms.

This wooden churinga was collected off a community near Alice Springs in the 1960's. It has a nice elongated form and the surface has deeply incised designs. It has been coated in red ochre and measures 30cm in length.

The Tjuringa offered here was collected from the community of Warburton, Western Australia. In my early days of going through Warburton the shop was in the main community, today it is on the outskirts of town and travellers do not pass through the town On one trip (1992) I was shown a large collection of artifacts by the then managers of the shop a lovely elderly couple whom had been at the community for many many years, and had collected boxes and boxes of artifacts from the aboriginal people as they came in from the surrounding desert country. Such a great collection. My reason for being in the area at the time, I was doing outback tour guiding through the desert country on route to Ayres rock and beyond, a job that I have done since 1990s.

A few years later I was asked (1995) if I would like to purchase the complete collection as now I had opened my gallery and the people knew that I would be interested.

I loaded 12 t-chest size boxes on my tray back Cruiser and trailer, comprizing of shields, boomerangs, spears, tjuringas, digging sticks, fighting sticks and alot of carved animals, coolamons and the likes. I retained most of the "great pieces" and sold of some of the more commen ones.

DISCRIPTION

Tjuringa is a term used for incised and or painted stones or boards. These can vary greatly in size, shape and design and each peice has its very own meaning and story. Used for ceremony, protecting the carrier from harm, but most of all they generally carry designs relating to family skingroups, I have seen Tjuringa's carved in stone, smoothed out river rock, but most commenly as this example is, carved timber.

This piece is beautifully completed, not so large in size but has very defined markings. Both sides of the item are carved with wonderful designs, not the circles, typical of Tjuringa design, but the long lines with a criss cross pattern, real nice design as one can see.

It is clear that it has seen a lot of use and handling due to the timber being smooth, well handled. It has a stand as well which will be sold with the item.

A very fine peice indeed, and well very worth the effort to add this to any collection that one may have. Age is unclear, I have had the peice since 1995 the shop keepers believed thay had it for about 8 to 10 years and also said that the people they got it from told them that it had been around for long time!

Going by its well used apperance and its fine design work I would beleive it to be around 35 to 40 years of age with integrity. SIZE:

Length: 27.5 cm
Width: 4.7 cm at its widest.
Displayed in the stand it is 36 cm high (top of item to bottom of stand.)

Excellent older Australian Aboriginal wood churinga, Central Desert Area, collected in the 1950s by the American Peter Fraser, piece dates to the 1930s. Piece comes nicely mounted on a custom made stand. 26 3/8" (67 cm).

This impressive wooden churinga is one of the largest I have seen measuring 262cm in length or just under 9 feet. It was collected in the Western Desert in the 1960's. Large churingas like this one would have been used by the men of the tribe during ceremony rather than a single person. It has been meticulously carved with a geometric design to both sides and the surface is dark brown with traces of red ochre and the raised areas have a handling patina. Postage will be via courier due to length and is free on this item.

Aboriginal Ritual wooden Objects x 2 with carved design in both. Age unknown. label stating that the objects are from the 'Churinga' North western Australia. The larger object measures 740 mm and is 67 mm wide. the designs on this object are squares and rectangles. the shorter object is in poor condition and measures 325 mm x 41 mm at the widest point. this has lovely designs carved into it.

Old Aboriginal tjuringa collected in the early 1900'S , Measures 44CM LONG X 6.5CM at the widest point. In nice original condition.

A superb wooden churinga field collected in the Central Desert in the 1960's. The surface of this impressive board which measures 190cm in length has been engraved with a circular design. It would have been used in ceremony and has traces of ceremonial paint and ochre and smooth surface. Overall the board looks to have had years of field use and would date to the early 1900's. It measures 190cm by 12cm.

This is a well used fine example of a smaller hand held churinga. It is a thin and elegantly shaped board with traditional circular designs carved on both sides. It is pigmented and displays goods signs of use and wear with a shiny patina overall. It has a delicate composition which marries well with its size and form. It measures 17cm x 3cm.

This fine old leaf shaped aboriginal churinga has been carved with a rare square repeated design on both sides. It has a good amount of pigment remaining, fine surface wear and obvious signs of use with an aged patina present. On one side there is a surface crack. It was collected in the 1960's and measures 25cm by 4cm.

This exceptional wooden churinga was collected in the Central Desert in the 1950's. It is a large board with substantial width and a beautiful organic design engraved. It was very well used before collection and the edges have worn smooth. It has suffered an old break to the bottom left and even this has a smooth feel inidicating use and handling after the break. There is a small made along side this break which would have supported a native repair long gone. The size and use suggest this board would have been an important piece to its original owners. The surface is a varied dark colour and there is a stable age crack in the middle. It measures 87cm x 16cm.

This superbly carved wooden churinga originates from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The front has a well composed geometric design engraved which originated from the La Grange Bay area south of Broome. The surface has a dark glossy patina to the raised areas from handling. It was collected in the 1930's and measures 44cm in length.

This small pear shaped churinga is made from a micaceous stone, and the front only displays the carved sacred design, with the rear displaying a pecked surface. It has a smooth feel to it, with red ochre remains. A similar example is shown in F.Mc Carthy's stone implement book, page 80. This stone was gifted by an aboriginal man to his friend in the 1940's, and would pre-date that time. Meas: 10x7.5cms.

This unusual Aboriginal board in the shape of a churinga has both an incised and burnt design on both the front and rear surfaces. Collected in the late 60s or early 70s it dates to round the start of the Papunya Tula art movement. This very traditional design is also similar to some of the very early boards that Geoffrey Bardon collected. Length 12.5 inches/32cm Width 4.75 inches/12cm.

This carved stone was collected in the Central Desert in the late 1960's. It has classic designs finely engraved and a red ochre coating to the surface and carving. It measures 27cm x 7.5cm.

Australian aboriginal Message stick from an estate I recently bought , the collection has not seen the light of day for 45 years this is a beautiful stone or tooth carved piece of museum quality there is a few darker spots which you can see in the photos - I think this is spinifex resin I have not cleaned or oiled the pieces - how the buyer wishes to finish them is up to them measures 81cm long and 7cm wide. In good original untouched condition.

• COLLECTED IN THE 60,S BY A THEN SCHOOL TEACHER IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA {TOWARDS SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BORDER} . • GOOD QUALITY STONE TJURUNGA NICELY CARVED WITH CAMP SITE , TWO PEOPLE SITTING EITHER END WITH SPEARS AND A BOOMERANGS EITHER SIDE . • RICH COLOURED OCHRE . • MEASURES 18 CM LONG BY 10 CM WIDE . • RARE HARD TO FIND ITEM IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

HAND CARVED AND INCISED BOTH SIDES (POSSIBLY WITH RAT OR POSSUM TOOTH) WITH CLAN OR TRIBAL MOTIFS THIS CHURINGA (TJURUNGA) IS A TRADITIONAL TOTEM OF IDENTITY, AND IN EARLY HISTORY HELD PRECIOUS BY MEMBERS OF PARTICULAR CLANS & TRIBES IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SACRED HAIR ADORNMENT, OR USED AS A BULL ROARER. OR CARRIED AS A CHARM. THE SIZE IS SMALL, 8.5 X 2 X 1/8TH INCHES (21 X 5 X 0.5CM AND IT FEELS WELL RUBBED (CHERISHED). IT IS MOSTLY FLAT ON ONE SIDE GENTLY ROUNDED ON THE OTHER.

This large old board was collected in the Central Desert in the 1950's. It measures 81cm in length and has a deeply carved concentric design allover. The surface has a dark red ochre coating and a handling patina.

This elegant leaf shaped churinga or hairpin was collected in the Pilbara of Western Australia in the 1930's. The front has an archaic geometric design finely engraved and the reverse has a small area of abstract carving. It has a great patina and measures 84cm in length. Reg Post within Australia will cost between $5US and $7US depending on the postcode. Shipping to the US is $9US and $11US to anywhere in Europe.

Collected in the fifties in the Western Desert this large leaf shaped board has an appealing geometric design engraved. The carving is deep and the surface has a dark brown colour with dry aged patina. It measures 77cm x 12.5cm at its widest.

A beautiful leaf shaped churinga or hairpin collected in the North of W/A in the 1940's. The face has a simple refined interlocking design engraved & the reverse has a geometric line design. It has a good patina from handling and measures 43cm in length. Reg Post within Australia will cost between $6US and $10US depending on the postcode. Shipping to the US is $15US and $19US to anywhere in Europe.