Hand-painted wooden plate depicting Aboriginal figure, signed by Bill O'Neil

This hand-painted wooden plate depicts an Aboriginal figure with a spear standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking water, with a eucalyptus tree and outback landscape in the background. Created in mid-20th century Australia, it represents the decorative Aboriginal-themed souvenir art that became popular during this period. These decorative wooden plates were sought-after souvenirs and home decorations during the 1950s-1970s when interest in Aboriginal art and culture grew among non-Indigenous Australians and international tourists. Collectors of Australiana, vintage Aboriginal-themed art, and mid-century decorative objects value these pieces for their artistic merit and as cultural artifacts representing a specific period in Australian commercial art history.