**Originally Listed At $600**

Attributed to Norman Mangawila (Aboriginal Australian, ca. 1933 to 1991). "Mother Nganndi" and untitled (Fish with Turtles) - natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark, ca. 1980. "Mother Nganndi" is signed "Y" in a square on verso with attribution label. A mesmerizing pair of wood bark paintings known as Dreamings - totemistic designs or artwork which can be owned by a tribal group or individual - depicting stylized animals enveloped in intricate motifs, all delineated in hues of burgundy, marigold, white, and black. "Mother Nganndi" features a goanna: a native lizard to Australia that plays a prominent role in Aboriginal society via totemic relationships, anthropomorphic representations in dreamtime stories, and as a food source. Surrounded by vegetal designs and tightly-packed lattice motifs, the reptile displays an ovoid body with an elongated neck, a tapered tail, and extended legs. Size of largest (turtles and fish): 29.9" L x 10.4" W (75.9 cm x 26.4 cm)

The second painting presents a pair of confronting sea turtles flanking a fish amongst flowers and linear patterns. A pair of bamboo reeds tied with vegetal fiber rope adorns one side of the piece.

A label on the verso of "Mother Nganndi" reads: "ARTIST: Mangawila / CLAN GROUP: Daygurrgurr / LANGUAGE GROUP: Gupapuyngu; MOIETY: Yirritja / This Dreaming is sung by Buyuyukulurminn clan, Dhuwa moiety. The Artist calls these dreamings 'mother nganndi.' The songs which this painting depicts tell of the spiritual life of the clan in their tribal homelands, and of the activities of the creatures and plants which share the dreaming there, and also of the laws by which they live. This particular painting depicts Dyanda = the goanna."

One of Norman Mangawila's pieces is owned by the British Museum (museum number Oc1995,01.1) and another was sold by Bonhams Sydney as lot 235, November 24th, 2013.

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s; ex-Milingimbi Art and Craft, Milingimbi Island, Australia

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 to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#174338

"Mother Nganndi" is signed "Y" in a square on verso with attribution label. Areas of pigment loss at center of "Mother Nganndi" as well as some smearing to white pigments. Peripheries of both show light bending with a few miniscule areas of pigment loss and fraying. Sea turtle painting has splintering to bamboo reeds and some unraveling of vegetal fiber rope. Otherwise, both paintings are intact and in very good condition.