Treasured Tasmanian Aboriginal red ochred necklace loaned to TMAG for two years

After almost 200 years a treasured Tasmanian Aboriginal red ochred necklace – believed to be the only one in existence – has been returned home, but it’s not forever. DETAILS >

pakana artist from lutruwita, Andrew Gall, who created a similar necklace (left). Picture: Chris Kidd

After almost 200 years a treasured Tasmanian Aboriginal red ochred necklace has been returned home on a two-year loan.

The necklace is the last of 12 objects made by Tasmanian Aboriginal ancestors that are being returned from overseas to be part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) exhibition, taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country.

The piece was recently returned to Tasmania from the Field Museum in Chicago for the first time in at least 190 years, and is on loan for two years where it will be displayed at the exhibition.

It was originally collected and sent to England some time before 1834, but it is not known how it was transported to England, or when.

The exhibition will also present the creative work of 20 Tasmanian Aboriginal artists who have created responses to the cultural objects, with the works co-exhibited alongside each other.

The Red ochred necklace has been loaned to TMAG for two years by the The Field Museum of natural History in Chicago. Picture: Chris Kidd

One of the taypani milaythina-tu artists, Andrew Gall, has crafted his own red ochred necklace for the exhibition, and said the original necklace was one of the “most significant” Tasmanian Aboriginal items held in any museum.

“We think it is the only one in existence,” Mr Gall said.

“It is incredibly important for Palawa people to be able to see it on their country once again.”

Mr Gall said once the necklace was back in Tasmania, they would be able to reawaken the knowledge of how it was made and what it was made of, a feat that would be “impossible” without the item being in the country.

“It is so important for those of us living now and for future generations that we are able to reawaken the 60,000 years of knowledge that was lost so quickly when colonisation happened,” he said.

TMAG director Mary Mulcahy said the museum was delighted the necklace had been returned to be exhibited alongside Mr Gall’s work.

The Field Museum cares for almost 200 items from Tasmania, including the red ochred necklace.