Lot 47: BUTCHER JOE NANGAN , CIRCA 1910-1989 A PAIR OF ENGRAVED PEARL SHELLS pearl shell, infilled with ochre

pearl shell, infilled with ochre Quantity: 2

19.7 by 18.2 cm, 18.8 by 19.5 cm (irregular)

Private collection

A pair of pearl shells engraved by Nyikina artist and Lawman, Butcher Joe Nangan. Nangan was probably the best and the most prolific of all pearl shell engravers. Although his figures are depicted in a 'Western' naturalistic manner, all images refer directly to either the cosmology, or the history of the southwest Kimberley.

One valve balances terrestrial beings: Mirdimalu the plains kangaroo; Kanaganyja - the emu; Langkur the possum, and of course the armed warrior against aquatic beings - Wayulu, the whitefish, Walak, the frog, and the mermaid - a Nadya Nadya - possibly Parrbul the daughter of Nyalanyalakap, the big serpent that is now transformed into Buccaneer Rock in Dampier Creek. Linking these two opposite environments are the figures of Inguruku, the Rainbow Serpent and the old freshwater crocodile, Mawili.

The second shell depicts a number of botanical forms with flowers - pupu. Other figures include a butterfly - pintapinta, a scorpion - parn, a wallaby, possibly the nail-tailed wallaby, karapulu, which has important associations with Maningkap on Roebuck Downs Station. The three human figures, two armed warriors and a statuesque woman cannot be identified directly. Warriors, of course appear in many of the myths of the area, while in others strong women are central to the theme. It is possible, for example, that the woman in this instance, is identified with the scorpion - who in the Bukarikara creation period, was in fact a malevolent woman notorious for killing many people.

Sotheby's wishes to thank Kim Akerman for this catalogue entry