Ancient Lower Murray Aboriginal Leangle Club – tc151

Category: Weapons

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: Australian$3800.00

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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: Australian$1300.00

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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$1100.00

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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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Markham Valley Ceramic Cooking Pot – tc157

Category: Utilitarian Objects

Markham Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

An attractive Markham valley ceramic cooking pot. Wonderfully decorated with two figures peering over the top edge, and raised abstract motif on the surface and top rim. The figures represent flying foxes which this pot was most likely used to cook. These ceramic dishes are unique to this region of Papua New Guinea, and this is an excellent example in perfect condition. Blackened encrusted patina on the outside of the pot from use on the fire. Mid 20th century.
Ex C. Howarth Collection. Melbourne.
Ex S. Teves Collection Melbourne.

Dimensions: Diameter x Height: 16 x 11 cm or 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Price: $700.00 AUD

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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: Weapons

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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Southern Highlands Timbawarra Figure – tc158

Category: Figures

Pangia District, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A large beautifully woven and decorated Southern Highlands Timbawarra figure. Constructed from tightly woven bark fibre in human form and decorated on both sides with baked natural ochre pigment decoration. The pigment displays classic highlands motif and is in great condition. Smoky patina, in truly excellent condition. Circa 1960′s; custom mounted.

Height: 110 cm or 43.25 inches.
Price: Reserved

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Group of 3 Massim Presentation Axe Blades – tc156

Category: Other Objects

Sudest Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A group of three large Massim green stone presentation axe blades. These axe blades were traded or presented as gifts throughout the Massim region and are still to this day highly revered as a form of currency. All are excellent examples with definite age. There are a few small nicks around the edges from time in the field; in otherwise perfect condition. 19th Century; all with custom mounts.

Left to right: Lengths: 26, 28, 21 cm or 10.25, 11, 8.25 inches.
Left to right Prices: Australian$850.00, $900.00, $750.00

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