aDW07 RARE! RARE! RARE! Aboriginal King Queen Plate Queensland Early 1900

Item No.                 . DW07

Description          .  Extremely RARE Aboriginal King Plate (Queen Plate?) given to LARDI MOONLIGHT in Queensland in the 1930/1940’s. She was the wife of Michael Moonlight who was given a King Plate (Gorget) by the white community around Boulia for his hard work and community assistance and later in life the pair assisted linguists and historians to preserve the cultural heritage and language of the Kalkadoon people. There are the initals JS on the back, presumably the maker and the surface finish on edges has been roughened with a punch presumably for decoration (for a female). Attached is a photo of the portrait painting by famed artist Leslie Campbell in the Stonehouse Museum in Boulia of Michael Moonlight and his King Plate and attached to the frame is his original King Plate (courtesy Stonehouse Musem, Boulia). The type of chain link attached to Michaels King Plate in the painting  is the same link used for Lardia’s. The history of the couple is well documented on the internet. Approximately 100 King Plates were given to Aboriginals in Queensland but only a couple were specifically given to woman (A few were given to couples) making this particularly rare.

Size                         .  13cm (5“) by 8cm (3″) Deep

Price                       . USD$6000