Ancient Stone Carved Guam River Dance Mask – tc84

Category: Archive

Guam River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

Here we have a fantastic ancient Guam River dance mask. Carved using non metal tools, from hard wood; the face with an exaggerated nose and huge pierced septum. The outer rim of the mask pierced to attach to the dancers woven costume, and the holes on this mask are extremely well worn from use. Weathered and extremely encrusted, with minor loss evident to the left ear. In excellent condition. Custom mounted. Late 19th to early 20th Century.

Height: 45 cm or 17.5 inches
Price: SOLD

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Old Huon Gulf Double Circular Pig Tusk Ornament “Yabo” – tc78

Category: Archive

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

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Old Abelam Wooden Yam Mask – tc73

Category: Archive

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An old and very well used Abelam Yam mask. Used to decorate the male yams at harvest ceremonies. Carved from dense hard wood in elongated narrow form. The exaggerated nose running almost the entirety of the face. Layers and layers of pigments, indicating repeated use over time. The septum pierced for feather attachments. Weathered and encrusted patina. In overall excellent condition. Early 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 36 cm or 14 inches
Price: SOLD

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Huge Ancient Abelam Yua Currency Ring – tc67

Category: Archive

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A huge ancient Abelam Yua currency disc. Carved from a section of giant clam shell “tridacna gigus”. Traditionally used as currency in bride price payments throughout the Abelam region; still to this day. Incised linear motif representing a hornbill beak adorn the top section; with the later addition of red synthetic fibre attachment. These wealth objects are graded on both size and quality; and rest assured this example is definitely A grade. Smooth old handling patina, in excellent condition. Custom mounted. Circa 19th century.

Inside Diameter: 9 cm or 3.5 inches.
Outside Diameter: 25 cm or 9.5 inches.
Price:SOLD

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Vibrant Wosera Baba Mask – tc69

Category: Archive

Kamge Village, Wosera District, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A vibrant Wosera Baba Mask. Tightly woven bark fibre, in helmet form and brilliantly decorated with layers of natural pigments. Notably are the eyes that project outwards from the face; these are surrounded by openwork weaving that reach almost to the tip of the nose. Worn by young men at initiation; and various Yam related ceremonies. In excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Dimensions: 43 x 51 x 30 cm or 17 x 20 x 12 inches.
Price: SOLD

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Ramu River Hunting Charm Figure – tc82

Category: Archive

Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

A small Ramu hunting charm. These figures are carried by Ramu hunters in their bilum; as a kind of “magical lucky” charm. Carved from “limbum” or black palm wood; in classic form; the large bird-like head re-joining the body at the waist. The face with piercing raised eyes encircled by a rim of pecked motif that runs around the entire face. Weathered patina; in overall excellent condition. Custom mounted. Mid 20th Century.

Height: 24 cm or 9.5 inches.
Price: Sold

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Fine Tami Island Figural Food Scoop – tc74

Category: Archive

Tami Island, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine and extremely well used old Tami Island food scoop. The stem bearing a classic ancestral Tami oblong face with pointed chin and exaggerated ears which wrap around the top of the scoop. The handle terminating in a stylised avian figure which once appeared to be surmounted by a second figure; that has vanished long ago. All over dark glossy patina from extensive use. Custom mounted. Circa Mid 19th Century. In overall excellent condition.

Height: 39 cm or 15.5 inches
Price:SOLD

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19th Century Fijian Ceremonial Club “Kinikini” – bf829

Category: Archive

Fiji

An extremely elegant old Fijian ceremonial club. These clubs were not intended for warfare, and were made exclusively for chiefs or priests. They were however capable of doing some real damage in the event that they were needed to be used. The paddle end of this example is completely covered in classic incised linear motif remnant of Tongan or Samoan designs where many of these clubs originated. There is also a rim of carved motif on the flared butt on the base of the stem. Dark glossy patina, in excellent condition. Circa 19th Century. Custom mounted.

Lengths: 110 cm or 43.5 inches
Price:SOLD

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Western Highlands Wooden Arm Ornament – tc45

Category: Archive

Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A Western Highlands wooden arm ornament.Wonderfully carved from hard wood, the entire outer surface covered in classic linear motif. Not a great deal of carving comes out of the highlands; making this quite a rare and unusual item. A great example of Highlands jewellery. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Length: 10cm or 4 inches.
Diameter: 9 cm or 3.5 inches.
Price:SOLD

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Ancient Burmese Hills Tribe Ivory Ear Plugs – tc49

Category: Archive

Burma / Myanmar

A fine and truly ancient pair of Ivory ear plugs, from the hills tribes of Burma. Cut form two sections of ivory, probably the same tusk; as there are striations that line up almost perfectly on both plugs. A single pecked circle adorn the front of each. Deep golden honey patina from extensive use; in excellent condition. Early 19th Century. Perfectly wearable, with the right piercing. Custom mounted.

Diameter: 5 cm or 2 inches.
Thickness: 18 mm or 0.75 inches.
Price: SOLD

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