Common Characteristics and Recurring Design Motifs in Cherbourg Transitional artifacts

The “diamond and dot” background. Most of the early artifacts from Cherbourg display this type of geometric background.

1) The depictions of kangaroos and emus. These are by far the most common animals depicted on the early artifacts from Cherbourg. Other animals depicted include dingoes, crocodiles, koalas, birds, cows, echidnas and snakes.The depiction of Queensland Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris). These trees are found in South East QLD and were utilised extensively by Aboriginals.

3) The starchy tissue of the stems and roots of the bottle tree was eaten, as were the seeds. The roots yield good quantities of drinking water. The fibrous inner bark was used for making rope and twine for fishing nets.



4) Depictions of Aborigines hunting, fighting and dancing are common. They are often seen to be carrying shields, clubs and spears. These depictions may relate to the early life of Barambah mission where most aboriginal people were still living off the land and inter-tribal conflict was common.



5) Depictions of authority figures. Images of police troopers, royalty, missionaries and soldiers, have been noted on several artifacts. The punitive and authoritarian nature of Barambah/Cherbourg shaped the way aboriginal people saw white people.



6) Depictions of aboriginal stockmen and horses. Horses and horse-shoes have been noted on several artifacts. Aboriginal stockmen formed the backbone of the vast pastoral industries that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Aboriginal stockmen often had good relationships with their white “bosses”.



7) Depiction of card suit symbols. Hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs are a common motif on transitional artifacts. Poker and other gambling card games were popular with Aboriginal stockmen.