Featured Carved wood Canoe with painted salamanders on the bottom.

found this in a little store down on the Sacramento delta.
It is 24" long X 5" wide. The boat has some basket like material around the top. And the painted beaded Salamanders? on the bottom.
Any thoughts on where it came from and who might have made it?
Mikey

 

I'd guess Australia.

 

A little souvenir. Aboriginal lizard.

Debora

 

I think it is a type of coolamon, a carrier for food etc. Very nicely carved, an elegant shape, and a beautiful basketry edge. The painting has artistic quality.
Coolamons are carved from local wood and usually have an elongated shape. There are many regional differences.

The painting looks like a goanna to me. Goanna is a source of food to Australian Aborigines, but it can also have a spiritual connotation.
Dot painting originated in the Central Desert, but some others are using it too now, even non-Aboriginal people. However, the coolamon probably means this is an Aboriginal piece. The use of brightly coloured acrylic paint means that it is a fairly recent.
I think your coolamon is Central Australian, but without a signature it is difficult to find a maker. Coolamons are used by women, and many painters are women, so I think this was painted by a woman.

 

Thank you @Any Jewelry
I am again amazed at your wealth of knowledge.
Mikey

 

You're welcome, Mikey.

I used to live in Australia and visited many Aboriginal arts centres, that helps.

 

You really are Amazing AJ!

 

She really is.

Debora