Sworders’ (22% buyer’s premium) Winter Country House Sale on December 6 included this 2ft 1in (63cm) lil-lil, a type of battle club (right), used only by Aboriginal people in eastern Australia.
The scalloped meandering design to this example – particular to north-west New South Wales – has been interpreted as a lagoon and the tributaries of the Broken River. A 19th century example estimated at a modest £200-400, it took £4900.
