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

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

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

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

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:SOLD

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

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

Vanuatu / New Hebrides

A fine Vanuatu Avain canoe prow. Carved from hard blond light wood, apparently representing a Tern whose job it is to guide the canoe and sailors home safely. These prow’s are like personalised number plates on sports cars; and this example with the central ridge running from the open mouth through the body; would have once belonged to a man of high status. It has been adorned with incised linear motif along the back of the bird and ridge and outer edges of the central section. Overall excellent condition. Collected in the 1950′s, dating prior to this. Custom mounted.

Length: 60 cm or 23.5 inches
Price: SOLD

Murik Lakes, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An attractive Murik Lakes betel mortar. The bowl supported by a central stem which is adorned with incised abstract motif, and flanked by three classic ancestor figures which appear to be almost guarding the mortar. This piece was collected in 1969, and has definite signs of age and use prior to this. The edges soft and round from handling and patches of the the pigment decoration have come flaking away with age. A great example in excellent condition.

Height: 13 cm or 5.1 inches
Price: $850.00 AUD

Fiji

A fine example of this style of Fijian club. Dense wood; the distal end beautifully carved with deep fissures around the bulbous head tapering down to the slender handle which is adorned with “Tavatava” motif worn down from extensive handling prior to collection. This is a little gem, and just holding it you get a feel for the real damage that it would do……….and maybe has done. Deep old glossy patina, with a small section of depredation on the reverse of the handle in overall excellent condition. Circa 18th/ early 19th Century. Custom Mounted.

Ex Dirk Hudig Collection New Zealand.

Height: 43 cm or 17 inches
Price:Sold