Figures | tribal collective

Old Manam Janus Paddle Figure – tc176

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

This guy would have once adorned the top of a large ocean going canoe paddle. At the time of collection the paddle was long gone and he had been turned into a personal ancestral figure. Both faces with large beak like nose, and coffee bean eyes, while the conical headdress is decorated with classic linear motif. Weathered and encrusted built up patina in excellent condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted.

Height: 37 cm cm or 14.5 inches.
Price: Australian $750.00

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Ancient Manam Island Garamut Figure – tc166

Category: Figures

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An ancient Manam garamut figure. Stone and shell carved form hard wood, the figure in classic pose with large coffee bean eyes. On the top of the conical head rests a second face and square pierced ears for attachments. Hard to tell if this is the male or female of the pair, due to there being old loss evident on the groin. A fantastic figure with a real presence. Mid 19th Century or earlier. Custom mounted.

Height: 36 cm or 14 inches.
Price: Sold

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Small Dance Gope Board Papuan Gulf – tc160

Category: Figures

Mouth of the Purari, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

A small Papuan Gulf Gope board. Carved from medium hard wood in classic form; the toothy grinning face with projecting nose at the centre surrounded by incised abstract motif. Decorated with natural pigments and traces of lime infill remain.
Used as a dance ornament during ceremonial sing sings by support dancers. Weathered patina in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 52 cm or 20.5 inches.
Price: Australian$1100.00

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Southern Highlands Timbawarra Figure – tc158

Category: Figures

Pangia District, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A large beautifully woven and decorated Southern Highlands Timbawarra figure. Constructed from tightly woven bark fibre in human form and decorated on both sides with baked natural ochre pigment decoration. The pigment displays classic highlands motif and is in great condition. Smoky patina, in truly excellent condition. Circa 1960′s; custom mounted.

Height: 110 cm or 43.25 inches.
Price: Reserved

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Fantastic Old Abelam Figural Lintel Fragment – tc105

Category: Figures

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A striking old Abelam lintel fragment. A singular head from a large lintel that adorns the front of an Abelam spirit house. Carved from heavy wood, in classical form, the face with a cheeky open mouthed grin. Vibrant “trade” paint decoration, a later addition most likely replacing the original ochres. Weathered and encrusted patina; in overall fine condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted. A dynamic piece, and to be honest much easier to display than an entire lintel……….
Collected by Edward Boylan in the early 1970′s

Height x Width: 40 x 37 cm or 15.75 x 14.5 inches
Price: Australian$3300.00

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Ramu Ancestor Figure Misingi Village – tc80

Category: Figures

Misingi Village, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Ramu ancestor figure, most likely originating from Misingi Village. Carved from light hard wood, the main face framed by sharp inwardly pointing projections. Interestingly this example has two other faces adorning the waist, one on the front, the other on the reverse. Muted natural pigment decoration, and some minor loss evident to three of the pointed projections, and old loss to the left leg, which appears to be caused by an over zealous rodent. Weathered and encrusted patina. Mid 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 63.5 cm or 25 inches
Price: Sold

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Ramu River Hunting Charm Figure – tc82

Category: Figures

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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Burmese Hills Tribe Figural Catapult – tc59

Category: Figures,Weapons

Burma / Myanmar

A wonderful little catapult or slingshot as we call them in Australia. Carved form hard wood; the figure crouching with hands drawn under the chin in an almost “prayer” pose. Dark smooth patina in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century. Mounted on a custom stand.

Width: 20.5 cm or 8.25 inches.
Price: SOLD

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New Ireland Chalk “Kulap” Funery Figure – tc65

Category: Figures

New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

These figures play an important role in the complex funeral ceremonies of the people of this region. Carved to represent the deceased relative, and kept in a sacred house or shrine, they are said to embody the spirit of the deceased. Once the ceremony is completed and the spirit has left the Kulap to join other ancestors, they are taken away; broken and either discarded into the bush or sold. This example has a wonderful carved face, and two sections of loss behind the figure where there would have possibly been other figures. Old surface encrustations, in fine condition. Mounted on a custom made glossy hard wood base. Late 19th to early 20th Century.

Height: 29 cm or 11.5 inches.
Price: Price on Application

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Powerful Old Murik Lakes Masked Figure – tc37

Category: Figures

Murik Lakes, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A powerful Murik Lakes ancestor figure. Brilliantly carved from hard wood, with an almost alien like elongated body. The long narrow arms with intricately carved hands are holding a spear in one, and a scoop in the other, while the features on the classic Murik masked face are raised, the ears pierced for attachments. There are traces of pigment in places, however it has mostly worn away. Weathered varied patina, with evident loss to the left leg. In overall excellent condition. Mid 20th Century.

Height: 146 cm or 57.5 inches.
Price: Price on Application

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