Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Bailer shell (Lewalan)
Bailer shell (Lewalan)

Bailer shell (Lewalan)

Artist (1941-2006)
Date1990 - 1991
Object number00015745
NameBailer
MediumShell, ochre
DimensionsOverall: 55 x 121 x 68 mm, 0.1 kg
Copyright© Arnold Watt
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA decorated bailer shell painted by Arnold Watt featuring images of spears and boomerangs. Bailer shells were picked up off the beach and used to carry freshwater, clear waterholes or bail out canoes and boken parts of the shell were used to cut up meat. The language name for a Bailer Shell is Lewalan (lpronounced lau-wa-larn). The cultural significance of the Lewalan for the Lardil people is that it is the 'Jaw' of the Ancestral Creator Being the Rainbow Serpent. Language: Lardil.HistoryTo continue the Australian National Maritime Museum's involvement with the Mornington Island community who were involved with the making of the raft in 1987, curators asked the then chairman of the local council to talk to the older residents about what sort of objects would have been used on the raft. The Chairperson, Nelson Gavinor came back with a list of objects he said were like the a kit. These objects, including this bailer shell, a coolamon (00015744) digging stick (00015747), dilly bag (00015749), fish net (00015748) and a spear thrower (00015746). Of these objects only a few are still being used. The objects are painted with the names of the seasons.The Lardil people did not use the names 'Autumn or Spring' but called the seasons by certain foods. A season was named after what was collected, eaten or was plentiful at that time. So that someone would say 'My child was born at turtle time' . The rafts, or walpas, assocaited with objects such as this were small and not very stable. It required a great deal of skill to cover any great distance at sea.The walpas became water logged after a few hours of exposure to water and had to be hauled up and dried out. This then, limited the distances that the traveller could cover without contact with land.The walpas were therefore used chiefly to 'island hop' over short distances.SignificanceThis Lewalan (bailer shell) is a significant object in the traditional sea faring way of life for the Lardil of Mornington Island.

Bailer shells were picked up off the beach and used to carry freshwater, clear waterholes or bail out canoes and boken parts of the shell were used to cut up meat.

The language name for a Bailer shell is Lewalan (lpronounced lau-wa-larn).
The cultural significance of the Lewalan for the Lardil people is that it is the 'Jaw' of the Ancestral Creator Being the Rainbow Serpent.

Language: Lardil.