Janangoo Butcher Cherel (c. 1920-2009)

Untitled - Moorroo (Hunting Sticks), Garroona (Shields) and Snake Skin, 1989

Bears artist’s signature, dimensions,
Duncan Kentish catalogue number 078/89
and ‘Commissioned by Duncan Kentish’
on the reverse

Synthetic polymer paint on linen
137 x 101.5cm

Provenance:
Painted in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia in 1991
Commissioned by Duncan Kentish
Duncan Kentish Fine Art, Adelaide
Private Collection of the late Duncan Kentish, Adelaide 

The four painted shields called garroona are employed in open ceremony and used whilst dancing. The skill of the performer is gauged by the extent of vibration in the shield. This is called igabayi. 

The central panel is the underbelly skin of the junggurra snake (black head python). The white bands on the side of the scales are the fat from the snake. (Interpreted by Clayton Cherel and Edna Shaw in conversation with Karen Dayman, August 2014). 

Cf. For a related work representing the concept of Igabayi see Igabayi, 1992
(PC 22/92) in the collection of the Marra Worra Worra Resource Agency, Fitzroy Crossing.