Australian Aboriginal Decorative Art by Frederick D. McCarthy (1958, 5th Edition)

Author:
Frederick D. McCarthy
Foreword by: A.P. Elkin
Publisher:
Trustees of the Australian Museum, Sydney, 1958
Edition: 5th edition

Format:
Softcover, 60 pages
Illustrated (some in colour)
Dimensions: 25 cm

Condition:
Fair – cover shows wear and minor tears; inscribed by previous owner on the inside front cover. Interior pages intact and illustrations legible.

ISBN:
N/A (Pre-ISBN publication)

Description:
A foundational and richly descriptive study of Aboriginal Australian visual expression, Australian Aboriginal Decorative Art documents the diverse and regionally specific artistic traditions of First Nations peoples. Covering carved trees, shields, boomerangs, bark paintings, ceremonial regalia, bullroarers, baskets, sacred objects, sand designs, and more—this booklet draws from museum collections and field research, presenting both visual details and cultural significance.

Compiled by ethnologist Frederick D. McCarthy with a foreword by A.P. Elkin, this work spans art from across Eastern Australia, the Northern Territory, Arnhem Land, the Kimberley, Queensland, and the Tiwi Islands.

Why You’ll Love It:
An important early ethnographic publication, this 1958 edition offers an accessible yet scholarly overview of Aboriginal artistic practices and ceremonial objects. A valuable addition to any collection focused on Indigenous art, cultural heritage, or Australian museum publications.