Fantastic Old Abelam Figural Lintel Fragment – tc105

Category: Figures

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$3300.00

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Western Highlands War Shield “Wagi Mak” – tc101

Category: Weapons

Wagi 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$3800.00

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Tami Island Figural Kundu Drum – tc92

Category: Other Objects

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

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3 Old Yangoru Talipoon Masks – tc94

Category: Masks

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$2400.00

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Massim Mwali Armband Kula Exchange Object – tc93

Category: Other Objects

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

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Old Expressive Ramu Dance Mask – tc104

Category: Masks

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

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Huon Gulf Food Scoop – tc79

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Huon Gulf, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

An old and time worn Huon Gulf food scoop. These ornamented ladles are used on special occasions to serve pudding known as “pollom”. This is a fine example, with a classic ancestor figure in relief adorning the bridge, complete with raised openwork ears on each side, the reverse with incised abstract motif. The handle terminates in a stylised crocodile head with old loss, which may have been another carved figure. Deep glossy handling patina, in overall excellent condition. Early 20th Century. Custom Mounted.
Ex C. Howarth Collection. Melbourne.
Ex S. Teves Collection Melbourne.

Length: 63 cm or 24.8 inches
Price: Australian$1250.00

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3 Archaic Huon Gulf Stone Club Heads: tc95

Category: Weapons

Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

Three archaic stone club heads originating from the Huon Gulf. All with varied classic form, carved from a dark hard stone. The star shaped head, and the elliptical stone with ancient battle damage, while the round head is in perfect condition. These objects are becoming increasingly rare. 19th Century or earlier, custom mounted; in fine condition.

Widths: 9 – 12.5 cm or 3.5 – 5 inches
Price: Australian$1600.00

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Ancient Abelam Kundu Drum – tc102

Category: Other Objects

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A very old and extremely well used Abelam Kundu drum. Carved in elegant hour-glass form. The top, base, and centre decorated in incised abstract motif, displaying remnant traces of natural pigments emerging from beneath the surface layers. While the handle bears two spirit faces almost worn down from playing. The lizard skin membrane is intact, complete with clawed reptilian feet and gives a suburb booming sound. Encrusted, glossy patina; with a couple of native repairs using resin on the base; in overall excellent condition. Early 20th Century

Height: 68 cm or 26.75 inches
Price: Australian$1200.00

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Fine Collingwood Bay Turtle Shell Hair Comb – tc100

Category: Adornments

Collingwood Bay, Oro (Northern) Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine hair comb from Collingwood Bay. Carved from a large sheet of turtle carapace. Wonderful natural markings on the translucent body of the comb. Minimal decoration except for two linear bands above the pronged section. A great example of Melanesian ingenuity for using organic materials. In overall excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 30.5 cm or 12 inches
Price: SOLD

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