Boiken Area, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

An ancient coastal Boiken turtle shell armband. This example so old that the carapace resembles petrified wood. The entire outer surface with deeply cut curvilinear motif; while the inside with a solid encrusted patina from generations of use. These are becoming very rare in the field these days, and are only seen during the occaisional sing sing or when presented as a traditional wedding gift. Late 19th Century; in excellent condition.

Diameter 8 cm or 3 inches.
Length: 10 cm or 4 inches
Price: Australian $1200.00

Collingwood Bay, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Collingwood Bay Tuttle shell hair comb, beautifully decorated with bagi shell currency and banana seed attachments. The carapace carved finely with linear motif fringing the bagi discs which are attached using bush rope. Smooth edges and surface patina from extensive handling and use, with old loss evident to one of the prongs; in otherwise perfect condition 1920’s. Custom mounted.

Height: 25 cm or 9.75 inches.
Price: Australian $850.00

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

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

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, jobes tears and other seeds; glass and metal beads and three large 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: 23 cm or 9 inches.
Price: Australian$1400.00

Nagaland, North Eastern India

A stunning old Naga necklace. A beautiful mix of clam shell red coral, & glass beads strung on natural fibre string. Shell and coral were highly valued amongst these mountain people making this an ornament that would have been held in very high regard. Smooth surface patina on all of the beads, in what can only be described as perfect condition. Early to mid 20th Centruy; custom moutned.

Height: 68 cm or 27 inches.

Price: Australian$1200.00

Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful old Gulf turtle shell arm ornament. Skilfully carved from thick piece of carapace; and highly decorated with incised abstract linear motif. On the upper rim are two carved holes, presumably for seed or shell attachments. Soft rounded edges form extensive wear in excellent condition. Early 20th Century.

Diameter: 8 cm or 3.1 inches.

Price: Australian$1200.00

Kerama Area, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

An old Papuan Gulf “Kap Kap” ornament. Beautifully crafted from a piece of bailer shell, the central openwork turtle shell section held in place by an old Colonial ceramic button;an early introduced trade bead. This example most likely belonged to a man of high status amongst the community, and was obviously an important piece we feel due to there being a skilful native repair to the shell section using bark fibre binding. Early 20th Century, in excellent condition. Custom mounted. Formerly from an Australian Private Collection, there is evidence of an old collection label on the front bailer shell.

Diameter: 9 cm or 3.5 inches.
Price: Australian$1200.00

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

Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A well loved Huon Gulf pectoral ornament, known in local Yabim language as a “Yabo”. Two fully circular boars tusks bound at the centre using bush fibre binding. These ornaments are highly revered by the people of this region, due to the time and care taken to grow the pig tusks in this fashion; and are generally worn by “Big Men”. We collected this example on a field trip a couple of years ago, and it can only be described as in perfect condition. The Tusks worn smooth from extensive handling. Reputed to be four generations old, we would happily say Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted

Overall Width: 22 cm or 8.75 inches
Tusk Diameter: 11 cm or 4.25 inches.
Price: SOLD