portrait medallion
- Museum number
- 2016,2001.1
- Title
- Object: Kertamaroo, A Native of South Australia
- Description
-
Portrait medallion in wax of Kertamaroo (also known as Mullawiraburka), an Aboriginal leader from South Australia. Framed in a circular wooden, walnut(?), frame behind glass. Metal ring for suspension.
- Production date
- early 19thC (about 1840 (see curatorial comment))
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 18 centimetres
-
Height: 3 centimetres (Laid flat)
- Curator's comments
-
This portrait of Kertamaroo was originally one of a pair with a female portrait of his wife, Mocatta. The pair of portraits were included in the 1841 Royal Academy Summer Show in London. Several pairs of these portraits survive, all made from the same mould.
Walker's inclusion in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1841 made her the first resident Australian subject to be exhibited there. Walker was also classified as a 'sculptor' and not as an 'honorary exhibitor' - a lower status commonly used for women artists at the time.
-
Lennon 2000 suggests that this likeness was probably modelled in 1840 and also notes that Walker's interest in Aboriginal culture was evident in her later collecting of works by Aboriginal artist Tommy McCrae.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good but back of frame held in place with masking tape.
- Acquisition date
- 2016
- Acquisition notes
- An anonymous donation in November 2015 in honour of Neil MacGregor whose term as director of the British Museum finished in December 2015.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- 2016,2001.1