Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A striking old Abelam lintel fragment. A singular head from a large lintel that adorns the front of an Abelam spirit house. Carved from heavy wood, in classical form, the face with a cheeky open mouthed grin. Vibrant “trade” paint decoration, a later addition most likely replacing the original ochres. Weathered and encrusted patina; in overall fine condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted. A dynamic piece, and to be honest much easier to display than an entire lintel……….
Collected by Edward Boylan in the early 1970′s

Height x Width: 40 x 37 cm or 15.75 x 14.5 inches
Price: Australian$2000.00

Wahgi Valley Area, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A fantastic Wagi Valley war shield. The front surface brilliantly decorated with classic red and white diamond motif, the top bearing a painted warrior and the words “Wagi Mak 626″. The whole 626 concept is quite humorous however Highlanders take it very seriously when talking of warfare only being fought from 6am until 6pm. Younger Highlanders have their own less serious spin on the saying, when they refer to partying all night from 6 in the evening until 6 in the morning. The shield has a wonderful curvature, and still has the bush rope handles on the reverse. Weathered patina; in excellent condition. Circa 1960.s
Formerly from a private New Zealand collection.

Dimensions: 158 x 58 cm or 62 x 23 inches
Price: Australian$3500.00

Tami Island, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A wonderful Tami Island kundu drum. Beautifully carved in classical hour-glass form; the top and bottom sections bearing four raised, Janus ancestral faces and snakes running to the handle and openwork section on the reverse. Dark glossy applied natural pigment decoration; the lizard skin membrane intact. There are a couple of native repairs around the handle and the base of the drum using resin. In overall fine condition. Mid 20th Century.

Height: 74 cm or 29 inches
Price: SOLD

Fiji

An early Fijian rootstock club known as “Waka”. Carved from an extremely dark hard-wood, the the mace like end attained by keeping a short length of the taproot. This club has the original sinnet binding called “Vividrasa”, and therefore should be properly called “Waka Vividrasa”. A beautifully weighted club with only one real purpose….. Minor old loss evident on one of the rootstock protrusions, presumably from use, in overall excellent condition. Circa late 18th to early 19th Century, custom mounted.
Ex: J. Barzyk Collection, Illinois, United States.

Height: 100 cm or 39.1 inches.
Price: Australian$2700.00

Liverpool River Area, Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

A beautiful bark painting of “Mongerrk” by the artist Didjbaka. This painting depicts the dreaming character of Mongerrk, who taught the Aboriginal people of this area to strip pandanus bark in order to make Dilly bags (Wongkorr). Natural ochres on eucalyptus bark. Wonderful cross-hatch painting style, in excellent condition. Circa 1980′s; custom framed. Ex US Private Collection.

Dimensions of Bark: 63 x 36 cm or 24.75 x 14 inches.

Price: Australian$3500.00

Yangoru Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A group of three old Talipoon masks. Originally attached to large snail shells and traded as a form of traditional currency. All three have solid age, and are of a rare form, particularly the example with the double bird heads. Traces of pigments on all three masks, the two with birds a combination of natural pigments and Rekkits Blue washing powder, often used as a pigment in the 50′s and 60′s. Weathered and encrusted patina in truly excellent condition. Circa 1930′s; custom mounted.

Heights: 27 – 38 cm or 10.5 – 15 inches.
Price: Australian$1500.00

Vakuta Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant Massim “Mwali”; Kula trade object. Traditionally worn as an arm ornament. The large central conus shell ring, with 5 large egg-shell cowrie shell attachments. Beautifully adorned with glass beads in an almost spider web fashion, and four suspended seed attachments. These objects are important in the complex Kula system practised throughout parts of Milne Bay Province. Wonderful old encrusted patina on all of the shell’s; in excellent condition. Circa 1960′s, custom mounted.

Width of shell section: 22 cm or 8.6 inches.
Price:Sold

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A rare Abelam Wooden Baba Mask. Carved in large helmet form from medium density wood, and beautifully decorated in vibrant natural pigments, for which the Abelam people are well known. Openwork carving around the eyes to allow the dancer to see, the mouth carved through and the septum pierced. On the base of the mask are square cut holes to attach the vegetal costume completing the dancers outfit. Weathered patina, with evident loss on the top of the mask and a native repair to a naturally occurring split. An animated sculpture; in overall great condition. Circa 1960′s..

Height: 57 cm or 22.5 inches.
Price: Sold

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A pair of Abelam Yua currency discs. Carved from a section of giant clam shell “tridacna gigus”. Traditionally used as currency in bride price payments throughout the Abelam region; still to this day. Incised linear motif representing a hornbill beak adorn the top section of each ring. These wealth objects are graded on both size and quality; and both of these are “A” grade. One of the shells has remnant trade pigment on the incised motif, with faint traces of a previous owners name on the front surface. Smooth old handling patina, in excellent condition. Custom mounted. Circa 19th to early 20th century.

Inside Diameter: 13 & 13 cm or 5.1 & 5.1 inches.
Outside Diameter: 23 & 25 cm or 9 & 9.8 inches.
Price: Sold

Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Ramu River Dance mask. Carved from hard wood in distinctive form, the large curling bird-beak nose rejoining the face just above the mouth, evoking images of mystique and power to its audience. The ears and septum pierced for attachments, and the cut out holes around the rim of the mask used to attach it to the dancers costume exhibit plenty of wear. Glass trade rings as eyes; add a vivid visual element. Weathered glossy patina in overall excellent condition. Custom mounted. Collected 1952-54 by Peter Kohler from Ascona, Switzerland and sold to an expatriate Australian. This mask had some age and definite signs of use prior to collection, most likely dating from the 1940′s.

Height: 57 cm or 22.5 inches
Price: SOLD