Abelam Kundu Drum - bf317

Category: Other Objects

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant Abelam Kundu drum. Carved from dense wood in classic hourglass form. The centre and lower section highly decorated with curvilinear motif, while the handle bears two spirit faces, and a stylised parrot head on the bottom which has been carved through. Applied natural pigment decoration the lizard skin membrane intact. A great kundu with a fantastic sound; in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century.

Length: 48 cm or 19 inches

Price: $1000.00 AUD

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19th Century Fijian Ceremonial Club “Kinikini” - bf829

Category: Archive

Fiji

An extremely elegant old Fijian ceremonial club. These clubs were not intended for warfare, and were made exclusively for chiefs or priests. They were however capable of doing some real damage in the event that they were needed to be used. The paddle end of this example is completely covered in classic incised linear motif remnant of Tongan or Samoan designs where many of these clubs originated. There is also a rim of carved motif on the flared butt on the base of the stem. Dark glossy patina, in excellent condition. Circa 19th Century. Custom mounted.

Lengths: 110 cm or 43.5 inches

Price:SOLD

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Solomon Islands Female Bust - tc47

Category: Figures

New Georgia or Vella Lavella Islands, Solomon Islands

A beautiful bust of a young girl originating from New Georgia or Vela Lavella Islands. Skilfully carved in fine naturalistic form using blackened hardwood, with pearl shell inlay motif including eyes and ear ornaments with an attached fibre coiffure. The fibre hair is bleached coconut husk. It is believed that these were carved in the late 19th and early 20th Century as early European trade items. This example is in perfect condition. A charming sculpture with a real presence.

Height: 26.5 cm or 10.5 inches

Price: Price on Application

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Fine Ramu River Dace Mask Bosman Village - tc63

Category: Masks

Bosman Village, Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A superb Bosman dance mask. Carved from hardwood; the bark fibre head fringe still present. Painted using natural and the later addition of “Trade” pigments. Pearl shell eyes, with incised curvilinear motifs running down the cheeks. A large tricuspid nose with pierced septum and pierced ears. The reverse exhibits good age and signs of use. Early to mid 20th Century. Custom Mounted.

Height: 45 cm or 17.2 inches.
Price: $3500.00 AUD

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Kairiru Island Female Figure - bf871

Category: Figures

Kairiru Island, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A Kairiru Island female ancestor figure. Carved from hard wood, with a serious expression on her face, surmounted by a zoomorphic figure perched on her head. On her back shoulders there is a section of raised linear motif. We are not sure if this is a stand alone figure or due to the half animal perhaps taken from a larger carving. Blackened glossy patina, in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 37 cm or 14.5 inches

Price: $1500.00 AUD

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19th Century Trobriand Islands Drum - bf696

Category: Other Objects

Vakuta Island, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful old Trobriand islands drum. Hard wood in long narrow form, the handle flanked by what appear to be two nurse sharks while there are stylised frigate birds on the each end of the raised central ridge. There are raised pierced ridges on the base for vegetal attachments added for important ceremonies. The lizard skin membrane intact, and there is a village repair on the handle using found copper wire. The wood displays a varied aged patina with a small area of stable surface rot on the reverse. In overall excellent condition Late 19th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 68 cm or 26.75 inches

Price: $1500.00 AUD

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Western Highlands Wooden Arm Ornament - tc45

Category: Adornments

Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A Western Highlands wooden arm ornament.Wonderfully carved from hard wood, the entire outer surface covered in classic linear motif. Not a great deal of carving comes out of the highlands; making this quite a rare and unusual item. A great example of Highlands jewellery. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 10cm or 4 inches.
Diameter: 9 cm or 3.5 inches.

Price: $750.00 AUD

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Three Trobriand Islands Bone Lime Spatulas - tc54

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Vakuta Island, Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A group of three pig bone lime spatulas. Used as an everyday utilitarian object in the process of chewing betel; which the Trobriand Islanders are completely mad about. All three display a deep rich golden handling patina from extensive use, and have nicely betel stained tips. Early to mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Lengths: 19 cm or 7 - 7.5 inches

Price: $700.00 AUD

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Ancient Burmese Hills Tribe Ivory Ear Plugs - tc49

Category: Adornments

Burma / Myanmar

A fine and truly ancient pair of Ivory ear plugs, from the hills tribes of Burma. Cut form two sections of ivory, probably the same tusk; as there are striations that line up almost perfectly on both plugs. A single pecked circle adorn the front of each. Deep golden honey patina from extensive use; in excellent condition. Early 19th Century. Perfectly wearable, with the right piercing. Custom mounted.

Diameter: 5 cm or 2 inches.
Thickness: 18 mm or 0.75 inches.

Price: SOLD

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Huge Ancient New Britain Stone Head Club - tc53

Category: Weapons

New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea

An impressive and old New Britain stone headed club. The stone head of MASSIVE proportions. Held in place on the palm wood handle by bush resin with a rim of small cowrie shells set into the resin fringing the top and bottom of the stone. This is one of the best examples of this style of club that we have come across, as most normally have significantly smaller heads and are missing the shell inlay. For similar early large examples like this we highly recommend a visit to the South Australian Museum, a definite must. The reverse of the stone bears an old collection label.. !9th Century without a doubt; in truly perfect condition. Custom mounted.

Ex Dirk Hudig Collection New Zealand.

Height: 118 cm or 46.5 inches
Stone Diameter: 10.5 cm or 4.25 inches

Price: Price on Application

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