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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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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Middle Ramu, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant middle Ramu food pounder. Carved from dark black palm, the handle with a beautiful avian terminal above raised and incised abstract motif. All over glossy patina, the tip of the pounder rounded from extensive use; in perfect condition. Early 20th Century. Our stand maker Arne Groskopff cleverly mounted this to resemble a bird about to launch into flight.

Length: 45.5 cm or 18 inches.

Price: Sold

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Fiji

An old and extremely well used Fijian bark cloth “tapa” beater. Carved from heavy dense wood, with three of the four flat sides used to beat the bark adorned with incised linear striations; while the last surface remains without carving. Dark old glossy patina, circa 19th Century in excellent condition. Custom mounted.

Ex Richard Berry Collection, Melbourne.

Height: 36 cm or 14 inches

Price: SOLD

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Aibom Viallage, Chambri Lakes, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An attractive Aibom sago storage pot. Sculpted usually by women, and decorated with a zoomorphic avian face with a large toothy grinning mouth. You have to love the flare of these ceramic artists; for the way they beautifully decorate their day to day utilitarian objects. Applied natural pigment decoration. Mid 20th Century; with signs of extensive use, excellent condition.

Height: 27 cm or 10.5 inches.

Price: SOLD

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Solomon Islands

An old and extremely well used Solomon Islands bark cloth “tapa” beater. Carved from heavy dense wood, with three of the four flat sides used to beat the bark adorned with incised linear striations; while the last surface remains without carving. Dark old glossy patina, circa 19th Century in excellent condition. Custom mounted.

Ex Richard Berry Collection, Melbourne.

Height: 35 cm or 13.75 inches

Price: SOLD

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Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Massim food bowl. Beautifully carved from hard wood; with two figural terminals protruding from each end. Scrolling motif adorns the top rim with remnant lime infill. Deep glossy patina in excellent condition. A charming bowl of rare form; presented on a custom steel display stand. Early 20th Century

Height: 54 cm or 21.2 inches.

Price: Sold

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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 glass beads in an almost spider web fashion, and four 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: 22 cm or 8.6 inches.

Price:Sold

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Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Ramu River Dance mask. Carved from hard wood in distinctive form, the large curling bird-beak nose rejoining the face just above the mouth, evoking images of mystique and power to its audience. The ears and septum pierced for attachments, and the cut out holes around the rim of the mask used to attach it to the dancers costume exhibit plenty of wear. Glass trade rings as eyes; add a vivid visual element. Weathered glossy patina in overall excellent condition. Custom mounted. Collected 1952-54 by Peter Kohler from Ascona, Switzerland and sold to an expatriate Australian. This mask had some age and definite signs of use prior to collection, most likely dating from the 1940′s.

Height: 57 cm or 22.5 inches

Price: SOLD

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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

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