Kurdaitcha Shoes, Walpiri tribe, Central Australia
shown in 1979 museum exhibit in Danemark!
| Start Price |
USD 1,200.00 |
| Current Price |
USD 1,200.00 |
| Time Left |
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| Bid Count |
0 |
| Buy It Now Price |
USD 1,400.00 |
| Reserve Price |
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| Start Time |
Sunday, October 05, 2008 |
| End Time |
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 |
| Location |
Versailles |
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See more about 'Kurdaitcha Shoes, Walpiri tribe, Central Australia '
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Description
Various artefacts Kurdaitcha Shoes, Walpiri tribe Central Australia collected in 1965-1969 Description : Shoes made of human hair, string, and emu feathers, and matted with human blood, which were worn by a man who had been chosen to avenge the death of a tribal member, so that his footsteps could not be traced. This pair of Kurdaitcha shoes was collected in Yuendumu area, 300 km west of alice springs in the 1960s by a Danish geologist, (name to be given to buyer). Note that he collected also pointing bones in Yuendumu from a Walpiri tribe member, G. Jabanadi. Maybe the Kurdaitcha were collected from the same person ? The entry in the catalogue only says "Yuendumu", whereas for the pointing bones it was giving the name of the previous owner, a Walpiri tribe elder. The geologist was in the bush between 1965 and 1969. In 1979, his collection has been presented in the Esbjerg Museum, and the items have been referenced. Five years ago he sold his collection, and I have been fortunate enough to acquire several artifacts (churingas, boomerangs, spear throwers, pointing bones and this pair of shoes). Here after, I present pictures of the artifacts, and also the annoucement of the Esbjerg Museum exhibit, an image of the Kurdaitcha shoes on display in the museum, image of the inventory showing their entry in the catalogue. Background : Often a dying man will whisper in the ear of a medicine man, a Railtchawa, the name of the man whose magic is killing him. Then, there will be a way to revenge... by the mean of a Kurdaitcha party. The man who is going to play this part is selected by elders, and will wear shoes made of a thick pad of emu feathers matted together with human blood drawn from the arm of some young men, while the upper part consist of a human hair string plaited into a net. He will go through very painful initiation (dislocating the little toe). Then, loaded with magic, stealth thanks to his special shoes, and he will go and "spear" the victim in his sleep. The medecine man who has been accompanying him in the Kurdaitcha party will close the wound, and the victim will wake up unaware of the attack on him, while being full of evil magic. The attacker will leave without leaving traces thanks to his special shoes... and a while after the victim will be sicken and will die. Pointing the bone, revenge by Kurdaitcha party, magic was very active in Central Australia, and maybe still is... Kurdaitcha shoes were hidden away when not in use. No woman or child may see them. See spencer and Gillen 1927:II,454-61, and Thomas in The Native Races of the Empire, Natives of Australia, London, 1906. Dimension : 22 cm long. Condition : Excellent condition for this fragile ethnographic artifact. These Kurdaitcha shoes were shown in a museum exhibit in 1979. Here is the announcement of the exhibit. The kurdaitcha is the display in the museum. The inventory for the exhibit. A 1970 article about Kurdaitcha parties.
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