Lot 98: 20th C Signed Wanurr Namundja Aboriginal Bark Painting

Name: 20th C Signed Wanurr Namundja Aboriginal Bark Painting
Brand: Artemis Gallery
SKU: ebd4a81ac9
Price: 900 USD

Est: $1,800 USD - $2,700 USDPassed

Artemis GalleryLouisville, CO, USMarch 01, 2018

Item Overview

Description

Bob Wanur Namundja, also known as Wanurr Namundja (Australian, lived ca. 1922 to 2007), Mankorlod region of western Arnhem Land, ca. mid 20th century CE. Untitled bark painting. Signed on verso. Painted using natural earth pigments on a large strip of eucalyptus bark, this beautiful, colorful composition depicts a file snake (kedjebe, or Acrochrodus arafurae) with three eggs. The animal's body curves upward, forming a U-shape with the head perpendicular at the top of one side, the long tongue outstretched. The head and tail are mainly white, while the rest of the body is segmented, with thin, dense diagonal lines of yellow and dark red over a white background in each of the nine segments. The three eggs are white, divided in half by a band of yellow with red borders, and with two red X's, one on top and one on bottom of the band. All painted on a dark red background, with the white body of the snake in sharp contrast. Size: 9.25" W x 24.45" H (23.5 cm x 62.1 cm)

The kedjebe is a freshwater snake, found living in rivers, creeks, and billabongs (oxbow lakes), where it will burrow down into the mud. In the area where the artist was from, people wade out into the water during the dry season and reach into the mud to catch these non-venomous snakes. In the past, they would then kill them by taking the head in the mouth, biting it, and breaking the animal's neck. This painting was done in the age-old style of West Arnhem Land, which is part of the oldest continuous tradition of painting (from rock art to bark) known in the world. The colors are created from the ocher that is naturally occurring in the region.

The artist, alongside his brother, was featured in the exhibition "The Art of Two Brothers: Bob Wanur Namundja and Don Nakadilinj Namundja" at the Cross Art Projects in Sydney, Australia in late 2005. The curator, Andrew Blake, wrote, "The brothers pay homage to a bush life in their place, called Mankorlod, a place spiritually focal to the Kardbam clan. Their stylised paintings depict the beauty and mystique of the plants, animals, ancestors and creator beings, totems and myths associated with Mankorlod. Both men are Kunwinjku speakers of Nawakaji skin. Bob was the formal authority to Mankorlod The brothers oddly metaphysical images describe a rich monsoonal forest pocket: livistona palms, noisy fruit bats and birds, possums in the rock ledges, snakes and echidnas, long yams and fruit and, in the waters made sacred by the Rainbow Serpent, lilies, fish and freshwater prawns."

A similarly-sized painting by the same artist sold at Sotheby's, London, in 2015 for approximately $3000:

Provenance: ex-private Tucson, Arizona, USA collection; ex-Ron Perry collection; Ron Perry collected art and artifacts for more than 40 years in New Guinea and the South Pacific. He collaborated with Carolyn Leigh to write a book entitled, "Art Dealer in the Last Unknown: Ron Perry & New Guinea Art: the early years 1964-1972" (2011)

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#130004

Artist or Maker

Bob Namundja

Condition Report

Excellent condition, with light surface wear commensurate with age. Signature on the back along with the title of the painting, written in black ink.

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Auction Details

Pre-Columbian / Ethnographic Art

Artemis Gallery

March 01, 2018, 07:00 AM PST

686 S. Taylor Ave., #108, Louisville, CO, 80027, US

Explore This Auction

Terms

Buyer's Premium

24.5%

Bidding Increments

From:	To:	Increment:
$0	$299	$25
$300	$999	$50
$1,000	$1,999	$100
$2,000	$4,999	$250
$5,000	$9,999	$500
$10,000	$19,999	$1,000
$20,000	$49,999	$2,000
$50,000	$99,999	$5,000
$100,000	$199,999	$10,000
$200,000+		$25,000

Antiquities, Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art

The following are the TERMS OF SALE for bidding in our Online Auction on Thursday, March 1, 2018. Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully as they are applicable to all bidders. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale."

1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

2. This is an auction sale, not an approval sale. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise.

3. HIGH and LOW ESTIMATES are provided for each lot for reference only. All lots will sell to the highest bidder with no hidden reserves.

4. No lots will be released / shipped until payment has been made in full. Payment (in U.S. funds) may be made via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. For PayPal payments please use "artemisgallery@gmail.com" email address for processing payments.

5. BUYER'S PREMIUM: A 24.5% Buyer's Premium will be added to the final price of each lot purchased through Artemis Gallery and will be paid by all bidders without exception.

6. CO SALES TAX: Appropriate Colorado Sales Tax will be added to all invoices, unless a valid CO seller's permit is on file with Artemis Gallery/Artemis Gallery Live prior to any bidding in the auction. Items shipped outside of CO (United States or international) are also sales tax exempt.

7. RETURN POLICY: In the event of an authenticity dispute, written notification of the dispute must be provided to Artemis Gallery within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. After Artemis Gallery is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented. If Artemis Gallery concludes that the assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including item price, buyer?s premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned.

In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer?s premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned.

If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 15 days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data for Artemis Gallery to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 15 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Gallery. The item must be returned to Artemis Gallery at the buyer's expense and a refund or credit of the item price and buyer's premium (if applicable) will be provided after the item is returned. Original shipping charges will not be refunded.

All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Gallery in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 90 days from the date of delivery.

8. SHIPPING: As a convenience to our buyers, shipping is handled in-house. All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value.

**For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. There are a small number of international countries we cannot ship to. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**

9. REQUEST TO DELAY SHIPPING FOR LOTS WON: We are happy to delay shipping on all paid lots for up to 30 days with no storage fees. After 30 days, storage fees will accrue based on a 2% of invoice total.

10. ESTIMATES for each lot are given only as a guide to help gauge bidding. Lots may sell for a price greater than or less than these estimates.

11. In the event a successful bidder fails to make payment when due, Artemis Gallery reserves the right to re-sell the merchandise and bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable cost of such a sale and to pay any difference between the resale price and the previously successful bid, together with any incidental costs of sale and disbursements.

12. If the auction invoice is not paid for in full when due per invoice terms, including any applicable credit card processing fees, the unpaid balance will bear interest at the highest rate permitted by law until paid in full. If the matter is referred to an attorney for collection, bidder agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other collection cost incurred by Artemis Gallery to collect past due invoices and that the services of process by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, shall be sufficient to confer "in personam" jurisdiction over bidder.

13. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado.

14. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction.

Shipping Terms

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Get Invaluable on Your Phone

Download the app via text link to get instantly notified if you’re outbid and receive auction reminders so you never miss out!

Bid On-the-Go!

Download the Invaluable app and never miss an auction from your iOS or Android device.

As the world's leading online auction marketplace, thousands of auction houses use Invaluable to deepen relationships with millions of clients around the world. Stay connected to the things you love with curated items and auctions sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time. View ourPrivacy Policy.