Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

A pair of traditional tuna fishing hooks. Both with clam shell stems, while the longer example has a very sharp hook carved from cassowary bone, the shorter one from turtle shell. The cassowary example has its original bush string binding while the turtle shell hook, has been restrung with nylon fishing string, long ago, the binding now exhibiting its yellowish patina from time spent in the sea. Both show signs of extensive use and are in fantastic condition. Circa 1930′s. Custom mounted

Heights: 9 & 14 cm cm or 3.5 & 5.5 inches.
Price: Sold

Fiji

An old and extremely well used bark cloth “tapa” beater. Carved from heavy dense wood, the four flat sides used to beat the bark with incised linear striations. Deep glossy patina, in excellent condition. Collected by Captain T.C. Tilly 1860 – 1890 during his expeditions with Bishop John Patterson converting the Pacific natives to Christianity. Custom mounted.

Length: 24 cm or 9.5 inches.
Price: Australian $1300.00

North Coast, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An old and well loved betel mortar. Carved form hard wood in large proportions, the bowl and base with incised abstract motif, while four classic masked faces act as pillars. All over smooth encrusted handling patina, while the inside of the bowl is fully betel stained. Circa 1960′s in excellent condition

Height: 18 cm or 7 inches.
Price: $600.00 AUD

Manam Island, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant Manam Island figural coconut spoon. The handle beautifully decorated with five classic masks, all of individual design, the tip terminating in a stylised crocodile head. The coconut spoon is attached using bark fibre binding, and the whole piece exhibits an all over dark smooth patina from extensive use; in perfect condition. Circa 1940′s. Custom mounted.

Length: 48.5 cm or 19 inches.
Price: Australian $900.00

Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Massim figural betel mortar. Carved in elongated form the centre with two classic female figures projecting outwards, the whole lower half of the mortar with incised curvilinear motif, with traces of lime infill. There is some kind of native bush varnish applied to the outside, most of which has worn from the top section from extensive handling; and the inside of the bowl is nicely betel encrusted. Glossy patina; in excellent condition. Early 20th Century. Custom mounted.

Height: 21 cm or 8.5 inches.
Price: Sold

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A group of three fine early and extremely well used lime spatula. All three have decoratively carved handles, and heavily encrusted betel stained tips. The first on the left with the openwork Avian terminal and serpent running down the front and back spine originates from Normanby Island. Dating form the late 19th Century, carved from dark ebony has some minor loss to the handle caused by a hungry rodent. The central Spatula carved from dark rosewood, with abstract motif and lime infill originates from the mainland around the mouth of Milne Bay just out of East Cape, dating from the early 20th Century. The final spatula, is carved from black ebony, has a wonderful Janus figure in classic pose comes from a private British collection, dating from the late 19th to early 20th Century. All have been custom mounted.

Lengths: (Left to Right) 37.5 , 40, 32.5 cm or 14.75, 15.75, 12.75 inches.
Prices: (Left to Right) Australian$950.00, $850.00, $1100.00

Markham Valley, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

An attractive Markham valley ceramic cooking pot. Wonderfully decorated with two figures peering over the top edge, and raised abstract motif on the surface and top rim. The figures represent flying foxes which this pot was most likely used to cook. These ceramic dishes are unique to this region of Papua New Guinea, and this is an excellent example in perfect condition. Blackened encrusted patina on the outside of the pot from use on the fire. Mid 20th century.
Ex C. Howarth Collection. Melbourne.
Ex S. Teves Collection Melbourne.

Dimensions: Diameter x Height: 16 x 11 cm or 6.25 x 4.25 inches.
Price: $700.00 AUD

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

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An Abelam cassowary bone implement. Said to contain magical powers which aid in the growing of the famous long yams; revered by the Abelam people. Fashioned from the femur bone, and decorated with a single cowrie shell set in resin in the centre, and two classically Abelam ancestral faces peering out from each side of the top. Smooth encrusted handling patina in excellent condition. Mid 20th Century; Custom mounted.

Length:15.5 cm or 6.2 inches.
Price: Australian$550.00

Amphlett Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine Amphlett Island ceramic cooking bowl. Used to stew taro and other hard starchy vegetables. Deep elegant form the top rim with incised linear motif and scalloping on the outer edge. The outer surface with curvilinear motif; the inside nicely encrusted from extensive use. All over dark blackened patina from time on the fire; in truly excellent condition. Mid 20th Century presented on a perspex mount.

For a similar example, see Reference – Massim Tribal Art Papua New Guinea, Art of the Massim region of Papua New Guinea, assembled, introduced & annotated by Harry Beran: Woolongong City Gallery,Australia 2500, p.26, fig 52. (Clay pot)

Length x Width x Height: 33 x 27 x 15.5 cm or 13 x 10.5 x 6 inches

Price: Australian$600.00