Ramu Dog Tooth Ornament “Dur” – tc186

Category: Adornments

Giri Area, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

This beautiful ornament originates from the Giri area of the Lower Ramu River, where it is known in language as “Dur”. I have long believed that these ornaments were worn on the chest, but have been informed in the field, they in fact hang down the back of the neck. This example is in fantastic condition, the woven bush string dyed using natural vegetable dyes, the dogs teeth are all nicely patinated as are the shell attachments. It has a lovely shell bell on the bottom, with an old rusty nail as the knocker, and there is an old wire hook on the top to attach it to the dancer. One solitary blue glass bead at the centre of the bailer shell pendant is an attractive addition. Dates to the early 20th Century, is in perfect condition; comes custom mounted.

Height: 44 cm cm or 17.25 inches.
Price: Australian $800.00

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Ancient Upper Ramu Valley Ceramic Cooking Pot – tc185

Upper Ramu Valley, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

This ancient ceramic pot originates from the Upper Ramu Valley bordering with the Eastern Highlands. Wonderful tear shaped form, the entire outer surface and inside thickly encrusted with remnant foodstuffs. The opening with raised zigzagging ridge, and in places you can see incised linear motif which lies beneath the encrusted surface. 1940′s or earlier; in perfect condition. Custom mounted

Height: 39 cm cm or 15.25 inches.
Price: Sold

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Large Collingwood Bay Ebony Lime Spatula – tc192

Collingwood Bay, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

This large and impressive spatula is fashioned from black ebony. The handle with incised abstract motif, and pierced holes down one side for bagi shell attachments. A lot of the original lime infill still remains; and the tip is nicely betel stained. There is a native repair on the base of the handle to a split using tightly bound old fishing line, the whole piece with a glorious dark smooth handling patina. 1930′s custom mounted.

Height: 44.5 cm cm or 17.5 inches.
Price: Australian $1200.00

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Fine Old Tami Figurative Bowl – tc193

Tami Island, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

This beautiful bowl we collected some years ago on Tami Island. It has a lovely deep avian form, the underside with a classic Huon ancestral face. Traces of limefill throughout the incised motif, with an all over dark shiny patina; in excellent condition. 1940′s; custom mounted

Length: 64 cm cm or 25 inches.
Price: Australian $1650.00

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Ceremonial Shell Bilum Bag – tc189

Category: Adornments

Giri Area, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

This old bilum has the front surface fully covered with sections of bailer shell. These are made like this to not only look beautiful at ceremonies, but to also make a jingling bell like sound when danced. This example also has a barely noticeable design incorporated into the weave of the bilum. Nicely encrusted patina on all of the shell attachments, and is in perfect condition. 1950′s; custom mounted

Dimensions of Bag: 31 x 19 cm cm or 12 x 7.5 inches.
Price: Australian $750.00

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Abelam Balsa Wood Yam Mask with Cassowary Feather Headdress – tc188

Category: Masks

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

These small balsa wood masks are used to adorn female yams at harvest ceremonies. They are often heavily decorated with shell jewellery, shell money and feather headdresses. This example has a fantastic expressive face and has been painted using natural pigments. Dark weathered patina, in excellent condition. 1950′-60′s, custom mounted.

Mask Height: 12.5 cm cm or 5 inches.
Headdress Width: 32 cm or 12.5 inches
Price: Sold

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Fine Old Turtle Shell Earrings – tc190

Category: Adornments

Giri Area, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

These beautiful earrings we collected in the Giri area along the Lower Ramu River. Four very fine pieces of turtle carapace skilfully fashioned into large hooped earrings. Worn through the centre of the ear rather than the lobe. Some minor chips along the edges, with a smooth encrusted patina. In overall excellent condition. 1950′s custom mounted.

Diameters: 6.5 & 7.5 cm cm or 2.5 & 3 inches.
Price: Sold

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Manam Island Figurative Betel Mortar – tc196

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful old betel mortar from Manam Island. The bowl supported by two classic masked faces surmounted by two flying fox heads on each tip. Incised linear motif around the bowl, base and central stem. The inside nicely betel encrusted. Smooth encrusted handling patina in truly wonderful condition. 1940′s

Height: 11.5 cm or 4.5 inches.
Price:Sold

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2 Coconut & Shell Dance Masks – tc191

Category: Adornments

Lower & Coastal Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

This pair of shell eye masks was collected on the lower end and mouth of the Ramu River. Coconut examples we’ve seen before, but it was the first time we’d had come across a pair made from pearl shell. Both are constructed entirely from bush materials, with the exception of a piece of metal chain on one side of the coconut pair as attachment. Both have been extremely well used. The coconut example being older dating from the 1940′s while the shell pair date from the 1960′s. Both are in excellent condition and come custom mounted.

Overall Widths: 15 & 15 cm cm or 6 & 6 inches.
Price: Sold

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Abelam Figurative Sago Peg – tc187

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Abelam sago peg. The terminal with a classic ancestral face. Hard wood, with traces of applied natural pigment decoration. All over dark encrusted patina, with some fine age splits on the face. In overall excellent condition. 1940′s; custom mounted

Heights: 42 cm cm or 16.5 inches.
Price: Australian $850.00

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