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: Sold

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: Sold

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

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$300.00

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: SOLD

Collingwood Bay, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

A fine early Collingwood Bay lime spatula. Carved in slender form; the handle classically segmented, with incised linear motif, bearing traces of natural red and possibly rekkits blue pigments. At the centre of the handle are four carved holes, presumably for seed or shell attachments. All over deep glossy handling patina; the tip nicely betel stained in perfect condition. Late 19th Century; custom mounted

Length: 44 cm or 17.25 inches.
Price: Australian$1700.00

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

A large old Massim lime spatula. The handle decorated with two “Janus” figures in classic pose. On the front and reverse of the stem is a raised carved snake, usually found on early examples. Remnant lime infill on the motif surrounding and covering the figures and the body and facial details of the snake. The tip nicely betel stained. Deep glossy handling patina. Circa late 19th to early 20th Century; in excellent condition. Custom mounted.

Height: 39.5 cm or 15.5 inches.

Price: Sold

Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

An elegant old Massim lime spatula. The handle beautifully decorated with a fine Massim figure. In classic pose with the hands upturned, leaving the elbows pointing towards the knees. We particularly love the cheeky grin the creator has given this figure, as well how the remnant lime infill highlights the incised facial details. Deep glossy handling patina, and though the tip exhibits no betel stain; it is obvious that this spatula has seen extensive use, due to the soft rounded edges on the handle and figure. Circa late 19th Century. Custom mounted; in perfect condition.

Height: 37.5 cm or 14.75 inches.
Price: Australian$2250.00

Middle Sepik River, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

An old Sepik food hook. Carved from incredibly solid dense Iron Wood, in classic form the large Ancestor face above the hook. Beautiful muted natural pigment decoration, shell eyes, and a square cut hole at the top to attach. Originally collected by Ed or Chris Boylan in the early 1970′s however dating from well before this; we would happily say 1950′s. This is a non-tourist example which we can say for sure due to the choice of wood used in manufacture. Custom mounted on a steel display stand. In overall excellent condition.

Height: 51 cm or 20 inches.
Price: Australian$1500.00