Nadjombolmi ('Charlie Barramundi') circa 1890 - 1967

Painted in Western Arnhem Land circa 1958

Acquired by Dorothy Bennett at Mt Brockman, approximately 50 miles from Oenpelli, Northern Territory

The Dorothy Bennett Collection

Private Collection, Sydney, acquired from Dorothy Bennett in 1981

Sotheby's, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 9 July, 2001, lot 11 (AU648)

Fiona Brockhoff, Melbourne

Unframed. Housed in a contemporary custom aluminium brace system. There are two fine cracks either side of the central area at the top of the bark, 2 and 4cm long and three further similar cracks extending from the lower edge. Otherwise the bark has had no repairs or restoration and appears in an excellent and stable condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cf. Lance Bennett, Oosutoraria mikai bijutsu Art of the Dreamtime: The Dorothy Bennett Collection of Australian Aboriginal Art of the Dreamtime, Japan, 1969, p.24, illus, fig.8, for two closely related figures on bark by Nadjombolmi, collected by Lance Bennett; see also Haskovec, I. and Sullivan, H. 1989. “Nadjombolmi: Reflections and Rejections of an Aboriginal Artist.” In Animals Into Art edited by H. Morphy, Unwin Hyman, London, pp.57-74, for extensive discussions of the artist’s life and rock art practise.
 
This bark is from an important collection of Aboriginal art and artefacts assembled by Dorothy Bennett on her field trips to Arnhem Land, Croker Island, Bathurst and Melville Islands, and Wadeye (Port Keats). These items were part of her personal collection, which was stored for many years under her sister’s house at Avalon, on the coast north of Sydney. In 1981 Bennett sold the collection to a Sydney engineer, who had worked on housing projects in indigenous communities, and had become fascinated with the culture. His intention was to eventually exhibit the collection. However the collection was never to be exhibited, with the majority of it remaining in storage until all were sold at auction at Sotheby’s in 2001.

In an extensive article about the life and art of Nadjombolmi, he is identified as having created, “at least 604 individual paintings (on rock) at no less than 46 sites… it is clear that he was the major individual contributor to rock art during the past 100 years. Although Nadjombolmi’s paintings are spread over an area of 1,800 km², the area is well within the documented traditional seasonal range of an individual living within the region. ” (ibid., p.70)

The label on the reverse reads: “Namorodos (sic) live in the rocky escarpments around Oenpelli with the Mimis and Nakidjidj (sic) spirits. They are all credited with being the first inhabitants of the area, and to have taught Aboriginals everything they know about hunting skills and ceremony. It is at night that the spirits leave their rocky homes and come out to hunt and fish, make love, sing and dance, then as dawn breaks they go back inside the rocks and pull shut the door they have blown in the rocks the previous evening. Namorodos (sic) are much feared. They have long hair which swishes in the wind as they play around at night, and long arms to which are attached very lengthy finger nails. These are detachable and can be flicked off at will to go straight into the body of a victim who is annoying them. It is mainly because of Namarodos (sic) that Aboriginals keep well away from the escarpments at night...”