Rare Early Papunya Tula Aboriginal Art Board 1975 Investment Collectible Australian Aboriginal Art Start Price USD 800.00 Current Price USD 938.00 Time Left - Bid Count 3 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, November 24, 2008 End Time Thursday, December 04, 2008 Location Melbourne, Victoria See more about ' Rare Early Papunya Tula Aboriginal Art Board 1975 ' Description A very significant contribution to the history of Australian Aboriginal Art was finally realized this month with the release of the landmark publication: The Lives of the Papunya Painters by Dr. Vivien Johnson. It sits on the shelf alongside Geoff Bardon's magnus opus Papunya A Place Made After the Story and dovetails very nicely documenting more of the phenomena that this the longest unbroken artistic tradition in the world. The book was written for the artists and their families themselves, all sales royalties go back to Papunya Tula Artists.It is highly recomended. One of the side benefits to the connoisseur collector is now he can put a face to the name of some of the less well known and unheralded original aboriginal artists, many of which passed away before the business side of aboriginal art encouraged the development of the star system. David Corby Tjapaltjarri  aka. Kupirana whose life spanned 1940-1980 is one such individual. His biography in the book indicates that he was a Warlpiri tribesman, one of the original painting men; the younger brother of Charlie Egalie Tjapaltjarri and son-in-law of Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula.. He was a well travelled man, attending overseas exhibitions in New Zealand with Toby Brown and  to Nigeria with Billy Stockman. In 1979, he was an artist -in -residence at Flinders University in Adelaide  along with Turkey Tolson. David was a traditional healer and an intelligent man of high degree. He met his end tragically by drowning in a fast flowing creek between Papunya and Alice Springs. Death by drowning is far more common occurance in the desert than most people realize. On offer is Water Dreaming by David Corby Tjapaltjarri, painted on October 22, 1975. Synthetic polymer on canvas board. The board measures 12" X 16" and is marked DC -75414. Tape marks clearly show the imprint of the original PTA documentation which is now missing but as you read this, enquiries are being made with Papunya Tula Artists in Alice Springs to see if it possible to issue replacement documentation.Their files are comprehensive but not complete. I will post the results of this request.  The painting will come with Western Desert Aboriginal Art Pty.Ltd. certificate of Authenticity and hopefully one from PTA.. The iconography shows the classic water dreaming, lightning strokes and running water are indicated. Two old men are shown across from each other singing for rain. The dotting is suggestive of rain drops and colour choice is reminiscent of regrowth.  Provenance: sold at  Elders Fine Art Auctions Adelaide, June 24, 2007, lot 150 estimated value $3000-5000. Papunya Tula Artists confirms that the stock number is listed in their records and is in the process of re-issuing a replacement Certificate of Authenticity. I will post it on this listing as soon as it arrives. I do not offer a gst discount to overseas buyers as i do not wish to disadvantage the possibility of this painting remaining in Australia. Place a Bid!