Sudest Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An old large and very impressive Sudest Island presentation axe. These fine objects are a status or trade object rather than a utilitarian axe. The beautiful greenstone blade is fixed into the highly elaborate wooden handle by bark fibre binding. Wonderful avian motif on the bottom of the handle the back edge and top tip of the wooden handle which has been decorated with green and white “trade” pigments. Weathered patina; in perfect condition. Early 20th Century; Custom mounted.

Height: 105 cm or 41 inches.
Price: Australian $2200.00

Dobu Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A beautiful Dobu Island splashboard. Carved in large form from heavy dense wood; the front surface highly decorated in classic avian abstract motif, and painted using “trade” pigments. Along the top edge is a raised carved snake crossing the board. Weathered from time at sea; in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century; custom mounted

Height x Width: 71 x 51 cm or 28 x 20 inches.
Price: SOLD

Kimberley Region, Western Australia

A fine Aboriginal pearl shell ornament. Commonly known by their central Australian name as Longkalongka also spelt Lonka Lonka. These objects were originally made in the Kimberley region; where they are known as “Riji and Jakoli”. Traditionally traded, throughout Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia. They serve a variety of purposes as personal adornments, also as ceremonial and magic objects. This example dates form the late 19th to early 20th century, has a beautiful linear design. On the outer rim there are a couple of small chips; which do not detract from the over all beautify of this fine object. Custom mounted.

Height: 15 cm or 6 inches.
Price: Australian $950.00

Bougainville Island, North Solomons

A fine Bougainville staff. The front with a large and beautiful naturalistic figure seemingly floating before the stem. The figure with a classic elongated domed head and great attention to the facial details, the arms and legs carved through, making the figure seem a completely different entity all to itself. Linear carved motif around the neck and waist, above the elbows and below the knees representative of either tattoo’s or perhaps jewellery. All over deep glossy patina; in perfect condition. Late 19th Century; custom mounted.

Staff Height: 100 cm or 39.5 inches
Figure Height: 32 cm or 12.5 inches
Price: Price on Application

Kimberley Region, Western Australia

A fine Aboriginal pearl shell ornament. Commonly known by their central Australian name as Longkalongka also spelt Lonka Lonka. These objects were originally made in the Kimberley region; where they are known as “Riji and Jakoli”. Traditionally traded, throughout Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia. They serve a variety of purposes as personal adornments, also as ceremonial and magic objects. This example dates form the late 19th to early 20th century, has a beautiful linear design and is in excellent condition. Custom mounted.

Height: 18 cm or 7 inches.
Price: SOLD

Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

An ancient Western Highlands stone axe. The ground and polished green stone blade and “fish tail” wooden rear held to the handle, with elegant bark fibre binding. The handle exhibiting a smooth glassy patina from generations of use. We presume this to be a dance axe rather than a utilitarian example or weapon, due to the fineness of the blade. Circa late 19th Century. Custom mounted in excellent condition.

Ex Richard Berry Collection, Melbourne.

Dimensions: 47 x 64 cm or 18.5 x 25 inches.
Price: SOLD

Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An attractive Ramu Kundu Drum. In beautiful elongated hour-glass form the walls carved extremely thin. The handle which exhibits plenty of wear is decorated in classic masked faces. Traces of natural pigment decoration visible; while the membrane is present allowing the drum to be played. Circa 1940′s, Weathered patina in excellent condition.

Height: 68 cm or 27 inches.
Price: Australian$750.00

Tami Island, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A wonderful Tami Island kundu drum. Beautifully carved in classical hour-glass form; the top and bottom sections bearing four raised, Janus ancestral faces and snakes running to the handle and openwork section on the reverse. Dark glossy applied natural pigment decoration; the lizard skin membrane intact. There are a couple of native repairs around the handle and the base of the drum using resin. In overall fine condition. Mid 20th Century.

Height: 74 cm or 29 inches
Price: SOLD

Liverpool River Area, Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia

A beautiful bark painting of “Mongerrk” by the artist Didjbaka. This painting depicts the dreaming character of Mongerrk, who taught the Aboriginal people of this area to strip pandanus bark in order to make Dilly bags (Wongkorr). Natural ochres on eucalyptus bark. Wonderful cross-hatch painting style, in excellent condition. Circa 1980′s; custom framed. Ex US Private Collection.

Dimensions of Bark: 63 x 36 cm or 24.75 x 14 inches.

Price: Australian$3500.00

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A pair of Abelam Yua currency discs. 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 of each ring. These wealth objects are graded on both size and quality; and both of these are “A” grade. One of the shells has remnant trade pigment on the incised motif, with faint traces of a previous owners name on the front surface. Smooth old handling patina, in excellent condition. Custom mounted. Circa 19th to early 20th century.

Inside Diameter: 13 & 13 cm or 5.1 & 5.1 inches.
Outside Diameter: 23 & 25 cm or 9 & 9.8 inches.
Price: Sold