Aboriginal men in southeastern Australia formerly created two distinct varieties of fighting shields, each of which was designed for a specific purpose. The first were relatively broad, pointed oval forms that were used to protect the bearer from attack by weapons thrown from a distance, such as spears and throwing clubs. The second type, like this example, were narrow, compact parrying shields, used to ward off blows from fighting clubs and other handheld weapons in close combat. Made from a single piece of dense hardwood, parrying shields were typically wedge-shaped in cross-section; the widest side formed the front, providing the shield the necessary strength to withstand the heavy impact of an opponent’s weapons.

The engraved designs that cover the surface of the shields were carved while the wood was still young and fresh. Makers used specialized tools fashioned from the teeth of marsupials, or sharpened mussel shells to carve and incise designs that include crosshatching, dynamic diamond and chevron patterns, and serial undulating lines. These designs identify the regional and clan affiliation of their bearer, representing deep histories of ancestry and law. In larger gatherings, they can communicate critical information across language groups and tribal nations. As such, each shield is deeply personal, a symbol of status and identity. Shields used for customary use in performance were often painted with natural ocher pigments and clay, traces of which remain on many examples.