Mt Hagen Area, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful old Western Highlands turban shell neck ornament. Eight (8) crescent shaped pieces of turban shell strung on bush string. Worn as an adornment during sing sings, sometimes traditionally traded as a form of shell currency. Smooth rounded edges with encrustations from extensive use; in excellent condition. A fine example of tribal jewellery. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Shell section width: 23 cm or 9 inches.
Price: SOLD

Maprik Area, Papua New Guinea

An unusual magical object. Apparently carved from human bone, which it does look like to us. We are not completely sure of its use, but it seems to be involved in initiation ceremonies of young men. Deeply carved motif with nicely rounded edges and a glossy honey patina from extensive handling over time. In excellent condition. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Height: 11.5 cm or 4.5 inches.
Price: Sold

Kiriwina Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful Massim Soulava. 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 bannana seed, cowrie shell, glass bead and red plastic disc attachments. Worn as an adornment, or traded as a status or wealth object. All of the attachments show age and signs and extensive handling; in wonderful condition. Mounted on a steel display stand.
Width:19 cm or 7.5 inches.
Price:SOLD

Fijian Islands

An old Fijian Tabua ornament. An important wealth and status object, often exchanged as gifts at weddings and other ceremonial occaisions. A single sperm whale tooth strung on a woven coir cord. Warm golden patina, in fine condition; a perfect example. Circa 19th Century. On the reverse the name “Lavin” is incised, one of its previous owners.
Tooth Width:16 cm or 6.5 inches.
Price:Sold

Maprik Area, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

An old Abelam ancestor figure. Well carved from hard wood, the figure surmounted by a hornbill peering over his head. Muted natural pigment decoration, with a pierced nose and large exaggerated phallus. Weathered and encrusted patina, with a stable age split on the front side; in excellent condition. Mounted on a steel display stand.
Ex Ed Boylan, Gallery Primitive Queensland.

Height: 94 cm or 37 inches.
Price: Sold

Kambaramba Village, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

An exceptionally fine old Sepik grass country mask. Carved from hard dense wood, with a very expressive face the forehead surmounted by a zoomorphic figure, most likely a clan symbol. Around the rim of the face are traces of resin which held elaborate shell inlay, which is no longer present. Cut out eyes and mouth, while the ears and septum are pierced. The holes around the rim of the mask used to secure it to the dancers costume are all square cut and show signs of extensive use, while faint traces of pigment decoration are visible. The mask appears to be stone carved with some possible re-shaping using metal tooling around the deep set brow, and nose. Collected by Geoff Carey in 1974 in Situ, however dating from a period much earlier than this. A fantastic mask, with a real presence. Circa late 19th to early 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.
Ex Carey Collection, Sydney.

Height (Not including stand): 65 cm or 25.5 inches.
Price: Sold

Bangus Village, Washkuk Area, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

A Kwoma nose ornament “Taipai”. Used as an adornment to decorate important Yina and Mindja figures at harvest ceremonies. Two upward facing boars tusks fixed within bundles of woven bush string with nassa and cowrie shell attachments. Formerly belonging to Mr Colin Kuyomb who is the cultural leader of Bangus village. A rare example of this style of adornment; in excellent condition. Circa 1960’s. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Width: 25 cm or 9.75 inches.
Price: SOLD

Ponde Village, Pangia District, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

An old Southern Highlands bark belt. Worn as an adornment at sing sing ceremonies to hold up the traditional woven string dress. The inner band is a single piece of shaped tree bark with the decorative outer surface having beautiful patterns of woven bark fibre. Constructed entirely from bush materials, and showing signs of extensive use. In excellent condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century.

Diameter: 30 cm or 12 inches.
Price: Sold

Ulupu Village, Maprik Area, Papua New Guinea

An old Abelam yam mask. Carved from hard wood, with an expressive face; and decorated with multilayers of pigments indicating repeated use over time. Attached to yams at harvest ceremonies which are then elaborately decorated with other adornments, giving them an “human” appearance which represent ancestors. Weathered patina in fine condition. Circa early to mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Height (not including stand): 40 cm or 16 inches.
Price: Sold

Kiriwina Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An impressive Massim Splashboard. Intricately carved from heavy dense wood; the front side heavily decorated in classic scrolling abstract motif; a solitary figure standing at the centre. Heavily weathered from time at sea, in great condition. Circa mid 20th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Dimensions (not including stand) : 34 cm or 13.5 inches.
Price:Sold