D’Entrecasteaux Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine and ancient Massim whale bone spatula. Elegant form, a row of pierced holes running along the upper rim for attaching bagi shell currency. Encrusted honey golden patina from extensive handling and use over time, the tip nicely betel stained. Circa 19th Century. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Height: 25.5 cm or 10 inches.
Price: $2000.00 AUD

Elema District, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

A Papuan Gulf Marupai. These small ornamented magic charms are skilfully carved from dwarf coconuts, and decorated with incised motif with lime infill. They serve as a protective or hunting charm, and are highly valued by people of the Gulf. Glossy patina; in excellent condition. Circa Early 20th Century. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Length: 11.5 cm or 4.5 inches.
Price: SOLD

East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Sepik suspension hook. A great example, most likely representing an important ancestor figure. Wonderful natural pigment decoration on the face, which has large protruding eyes with shell attachments. Weathered patina with old insect holes. Plenty of wear on the hook where bilums would have been hung, as well on the square cut hold on the top of the head used to attach the hook. Mounted on a custom steel stand.

Ex P. Hallinan Collection (H291)

Height: 53 cm or 21 inches.
Price: SOLD

Murik Lakes, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A Murik Lakes dance mask. Carved from hard wood, with an extremely long nose projecting well below the chin of the mask, and a fantastic carved bird surmounted on the forehead. Vibrant trade and ochre pigment decoration with shell attachments through pierced ears and nose. Large cut holes around the outer rim for attaching to the dancers costume, and judging by the wear on these holes this mask has been danced many times. Minor loss evident on the top left; in excellent condition. Circa 1960′s. Presented on a custom steel display stand.

Height: 61 cm or 24 inches.
Price: SOLD

Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Massim turtle shell Gabaela. These grand spatulas are actually a presentation item, displaying the important bagi shell currency attachments. Wonderfully carved from a beautiful piece of carapace, with incised motif and open work sections at each end. The bagi shell is attached using bush fibre, and there is remnant lime infill on the motif. Deep glossy patina; in perfect condition. Circa: 19th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 29 cm or 11.5 inches
Price: Sold

Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A charming little Ramu ancestor figure, most likely originating from Misingi Village. Carved in tall narrow form with 12 curved protrusions surrounding the minimalist face. Weathered encrusted patina, with one old section of loss to one of the lower protrusions; in excellent condition. Mounted on a custom stand. Early to mid 20th Century.

Height: 60.5 cm or 23.75 inches.
Price: SOLD

Highlands, Papua New Guinea

An archaic Highlands stone magic bowl. Little is known about the real function of these objects; both of us have asked repeatedly while on field trips to the Highlands and been given all kinds of tales about their use. We can tell you that this particular bowl is extremely old, and has seen plenty of use, whatever it was, due to the soft roundness of the scalloped edges around the outside rim and the over all smoothness of its surface. Worn and varied patina; in excellent condition.

Dimensions: 15 x 10 cm or 6 x 4 inches.
Price: Sold

Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A large and impressive Massim soulava. These important ritual objects play a major role in the complicated Kula trading cycle. This is a great example, consisting of red spondylus discs “bagi”, a cassis shell base with glass trade beads, banana seeds and pearl shell attachments. Notably the double peaked cassis shell section, allowing for a much larger and more dramatic pendant section. There is both natural and introduced fibre used in the construction. Weathered and encrusted patina; in excellent condition.

Dimensions: 26 x 18 cm or 10.2 x 7 inches.
Price: SOLD

Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A large Sudest Island canoe splashboard. Carved from dense wood, the top with wonderful incised abstract motif. The entire surface was originally covered in “trade” paint, a lot of which has weathered away from time at sea. Lovely wear on the carved design; from extensive use. In excellent condition. Mounted on a custom steel stand.

Dimensions: 89 x 48 cm or 35 x 19 inches.
Price: SOLD

Wosera District, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A Wosera figural spear tip. The palm wood stem and tip bearing three smirking faces. The stem of the spear has raised curvilinear motif with a touch of red “trade” paint, most likely a later addition. The tip covered in a kind of natural pigment mixed with tree resin giving a waxy appearance. Weathered and encrusted patina; in excellent condition. Mounted on a custom steel display stand.

Length: 108cm or 42.5 inches.
Price: SOLD