BMCA2015_17_41_2

Title: A message stick held in the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, California, USA

Description: BMCA description: "Message sticks enabled important communications to be passed between various Aboriginal Australian groups. As there are hundreds of different languages and dialects spoken, a common mechanism for communication was essential. The symbols and markings on the sticks were not a script to be read, but rather a mnemonic device for messengers. Messengers would use these symbols to accurately relay notices, invitations, requests and announcements to a translator. In addition, message sticks served as a type of passport. With it in hand, a messenger could safely pass through the lands of various nations and clan groupings without incident."

Notes on date created: mid 19th - early 20th Century

Item type: message stick in a collection

State/Territory: Western Australia, Australia, Australia

Dimension 1: 165mm Dimension 2: 13mm Dimension 3: 13mm

Materials: wood and pigment

Institution/Holder file: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art object identifier: 2015.17.41.2

Collector: The George Stanley Lodin Collection

Place collected: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australia

Media copyright: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art

URL institution: https://collections.bowers.org/objects/143871/message-stick?ctx=8d52569b10516b7e34563584f4238eb837e57201&idx=0

Notes: 26.2.24 NR: This item is kept alongside 1 more message stick and other artifacts.

Media Files:

Data Entry: Nitzan Rotman

Related Entries: BMCA2015_17_41_3