Made by Samuel Namunjdja from Arnhem Land, Northern Australia (mid 20th century).

Traditionally, amongst the Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land, bodies were either buried or placed on a platform in a tree and left to decompose. The bones would be recovered, months or years later, and then placed into a hollow log coffin decorated with clan designs. The coffin was then placed upright in the ground and left to be weathered away.

Loaned by Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery