Beautifully Decorated Southern Highlands War Shield – tc159

Category: Weapons

Mendi Area, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Southern Highlands war shield. The front side with a raised medial ridge; the top section with incised triangular motif highlighted with applied natural pigments, and finely pecked motif on the top left and right hand side in the unpainted area. Classic painted motif on the bottom of the shield, the rope handle still present on the reverse. There is an old village repair using wire to a split on the bottom right hand side of the shield, fairly common with old shields collected in the 20th Century. On the handle is attached an old collection label with a catalogue number and stating that the shield originates from the Western Highlands. We feel that this data is incorrect, however it may refer to where the shield was collected. This happens a lot in PNG, pieces can travel the entire length of the country, making field work up there a bunch of fun. Dark smooth patina, with some minor muting to the painted design; in overall wonderful condition. Early 20th Century.

Height: 127 cm or 50 inches.
Price: Australian$5200.00

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Superb Massim Figurative Betel Mortar – tc146

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Massim figural betel mortar. Carved in elongated form the centre with two classic female figures projecting outwards, the whole lower half of the mortar with incised curvilinear motif, with traces of lime infill. There is some kind of native bush varnish applied to the outside, most of which has worn from the top section from extensive handling; and the inside of the bowl is nicely betel encrusted. Glossy patina; in excellent condition. Early 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 21 cm or 8.5 inches.
Price: Sold

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Ancient Lower Murray Aboriginal Leangle Club – tc151

Category: Archive

Lower Murray River, South Australia, Australia

An ancient Aboriginal Leangle Club. Carved from extremely hard wood, in classic form, the raked beak like distal end with beautiful fiddle back on the inside of the curve. The handle decorated with a a classic “rat-tail” grip below incised linear motif. All over smooth glassy blackened patina from extensive handling. Along the back edge is an old age split, and the front of the club above the grip bears an old collection number, as well as traces of another label, most of which has gone. In overall excellent condition. Mid 19th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 69 cm or 27 inches.
Length of Head: 21 cm or 8.25 inches
Price: SOLD

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Rare Massim Coconut Container Sudest Island – tc155

Category: Other Objects

Sudest Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A rare Sudest Island coconut container. Carved from a dwarf coconut, the entire outer surface with incised avian; and scrolling abstract motif. These containers reputedly hold shell money, used to this day in land and compensation payments. Traces of lime infill, and an all over glossy patina; in perfect condition. Early 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 7.5 cm or 3 inches.
Price:SOLD

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Small Dance Gope Board Papuan Gulf – tc160

Category: Figures

Mouth of the Purari, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

A small Papuan Gulf Gope board. Carved from medium hard wood in classic form; the toothy grinning face with projecting nose at the centre surrounded by incised abstract motif. Decorated with natural pigments and traces of lime infill remain.
Used as a dance ornament during ceremonial sing sings by support dancers. Weathered patina in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 52 cm or 20.5 inches.
Price: Australian$950.00

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Group of Three Massim Lime Spatula – tc149

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A group of three fine early and extremely well used lime spatula. All three have decoratively carved handles, and heavily encrusted betel stained tips. The first on the left with the openwork Avian terminal and serpent running down the front and back spine originates from Normanby Island. Dating form the late 19th Century, carved from dark ebony has some minor loss to the handle caused by a hungry rodent. The central Spatula carved from dark rosewood, with abstract motif and lime infill originates from the mainland around the mouth of Milne Bay just out of East Cape, dating from the early 20th Century. The final spatula, is carved from black ebony, has a wonderful Janus figure in classic pose comes from a private British collection, dating from the late 19th to early 20th Century. All have been custom mounted.

Lengths: (Left to Right) 37.5 , 40, 32.5 cm or 14.75, 15.75, 12.75 inches.
Prices: (Left to Right) Australian$950.00, $850.00, $1100.00

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Fine Papuan Gulf Bark Belt – tc143

Category: Adornments

Biamaru Area, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

A fine Gulf ceremonial bark belt. Skilfully carved from a thin piece of bark and decorated with six beautiful Gope style faces around the diameter, and applied natural pigment decoration. Silky smooth patina on the inside of the belt from extensive use; in perfect condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Diameter: 27 cm or 10.25 inches.
Width: 7 cm or 2.75 inches
Price: Sold

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Papuan Gulf Magic Charm “Marupai” – tc145

Category: Other Objects

Elema District, Papuan Gulf, 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. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 11 cm or 4.5 inches.
Price: Sold

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19th Century Northern South Australian Boomerang – tc144

Category: Archive

Flinders Ranges Region, South Australia, Australia

A fine hard wood Aboriginal boomerang. Carved from hard Mulga wood with fantastic sweeping form; the front surface with incised geometric motif, most likely using a possum tooth implement and evidence along all edges of extensive use. Deep glossy patina in excellent condition. Mid to late 19th Century; Custom mounted.

Length: 71 cm or 28 inches.
Price: Sold

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Fine Massim Soulava Kula Object – tc148

Category: Adornments

Kiriwina Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

These important objects play a vital role in the Kula Exchange. A great example of traditional design melded with contemporary introduced materials. Constructed from pearl shell with banana seed, cowrie shell, glass bead and red plastic disc attachments; complete with a healthy length of “A-grade” bagi shell money attached. The front side of the Pearl shell has two incised names of previous owners. Worn as an adornment, or traded as a status or wealth object. All of the attachments show age and signs and extensive handling; in overall wonderful condition. Mid 20th Century; custom mounted.

Shell Width: 15 cm or 6 inches.
Bagi Length: 87 cm or 34.25 inches
Price: Australian$950.00

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