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Lot 13

Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek
(1926-2009)
Mardayin Ceremony, c.1978

Important Australian Art

21 November 2019, 18:00 AEDT

Melbourne, Armadale

Sold for AU$15,860 inc. premium

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Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek (1926-2009)

Mardayin Ceremony, c.1978
numbered and inscribed verso: '643 ~849 /T LOFTY NADJAMERREK'
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
114.0 x 42.5cm (44 7/8 x 16 3/4in).

Footnotes

PROVENANCE
Australian Aboriginal Art, Canberra (cat.849)
Private collection, Canberra, acquired from the above in 1991

RELATED WORKS
Mimih Spirits Dancing, 1981, natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark, 86.0 x 53.0cm in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra (accession no. 2014.691)
Mardayin Ceremony, c.1978, natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark, 119.7 × 57.1cm in the collection of National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (accession no.O.17-1990)
Mimih Spirits Dancing, c.1965, natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark, 54.8 × 46.5 cm in the collection of National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (accession no. 1998.49)

Mardayin ceremonies often feature dances that incorporate the spearing of kangaroos. In this instance, Nadjamerrek has pictured the butchering of the kangaroo which is undertaken in a very specific manner so that particular portions of meat are given to the appropriate relatives of the hunter. A bark shelter is also depicted with a basket and various implements hanging from the structure.

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