To create the engraved patterns and designs the artist must scrape the outer layers of the egg away. A variety of engraving tools have been adopted by carvers and include stone tools, pocket-knives, steel wool, metal emery boards and the most popular tool used by egg carvers is the shearing cutter.
The emu feathers shown here are an example from an adult bird. Emu feathers are used as body decorations and to decorate significant objects. The feathered objects displayed here are from western New South Wales and were donated to the Museum in 1911.
Emu decoys were used by Aboriginal people in New South Wales when hunting emus. The emu decoy or 'boobinj' would be used to attract the emu by either blowing into a small hole at one end to imitate call of the male bird or in some instances the hunter would strike one end of the decoy with an open hand.
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