Wagi Valley Area, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A fantastic Wagi Valley war shield. The front surface brilliantly decorated with classic red and white diamond motif, the top bearing a painted warrior and the words “Wagi Mak 626″. The whole 626 concept is quite humorous however Highlanders take it very seriously when talking of warfare only being fought from 6am until 6pm. Younger Highlanders have their own less serious spin on the saying, when they refer to partying all night from 6 in the evening until 6 in the morning. The shield has a wonderful curvature, and still has the bush rope handles on the reverse. Weathered patina; in excellent condition. Circa 1960.s
Formerly from a private New Zealand collection.

Dimensions: 158 x 58 cm or 62 x 23 inches
Price: Australian$3800.00

Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea

Three archaic stone club heads originating from the Huon Gulf. All with varied classic form, carved from a dark hard stone. The star shaped head, and the elliptical stone with ancient battle damage, while the round head is in perfect condition. These objects are becoming increasingly rare. 19th Century or earlier, custom mounted; in fine condition.

Widths: 9 – 12.5 cm or 3.5 – 5 inches
Price: Australian$1600.00

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A old and extremely rare Abelam war shield. (“Only one published example has been identified” – B. Craig – Shields of Melanesia) Carved in elongated rectangular form with a shallow backwards facing curve. The entire front surface covered in abstract curvilinear motif, bearing two spirit faces. This shield has seen plenty of battle as on the front side has forty or so spear holes, many of them displaying limbum spear tips from Abelam fighting spears. Now according to our knowledge there has been no major tribal fighting in this area since the 1930′s, and this shield had seen plenty of action before this. Minor loss evident on the top right edge weathered dry patina, in overall excellent condition. Late 19th to early 20th Century.

Reference – Shields of Melanesia, edited by Harry Beran and Barry Craig, Adelaide: Crawford House Publishing in association with the Oceanic Art Society, 2005, p. 92, fig. 4.27

Dimensions: 164 x 41 cm or 64.5 x 15.75 inches
Price: Price on Application

Maprik Area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

A pair of Abelam cassowary bone daggers. Most likely ornamental objects as opposed to weapons due to the fragile nature of the “blades”. Both with claw-like terminals, and double pronged blades. One is considerably more refined than the other with decorative incised linear motif, and stylised bird heads adorning the claw, while the other has a small section of motif just below the claw. Smooth dark handling patina; in excellent condition. Custom mounted. Mid 20th Century.

Lengths: 23 & 28 cm or 9 & 11 inches.
Price: $900.00 AUD

Fiji

A fine example of this style of Fijian club. Dense wood; the distal end beautifully carved with deep fissures around the bulbous head tapering down to the slender handle which is adorned with “Tavatava” motif worn down from extensive handling prior to collection. This is a little gem, and just holding it you get a feel for the real damage that it would do……….and maybe has done. Deep old glossy patina, with a small section of depredation on the reverse of the handle in overall excellent condition. Circa 18th/ early 19th Century. Custom Mounted.

Ex Dirk Hudig Collection New Zealand.

Height: 43 cm or 17 inches
Price:Sold

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

Mt Hagen Area, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

A large Western Highlands steel war shield. Skilfully crafted from an old flattened 44 gallon drum. Decorated on the front with a painted image of “The Phantom” PNG’s favourite comic character. On the reverse remain the woven bush string handles, and there is a woven bush fibre bilum like fringe running along the upper rim. These steel shields started appearing around the 1950′s-60′s when the weapon of choice in the Highlands was the shotgun, and we have seen same fantastic home-made guns while up there. This one has battle scars on the upper sections from what appears to be axes, and possibly bullets or arrows. Similar examples can be seen in the collection of The National Gallery of Victoria, Australia. Mid 20th Century, in fine condition.

Dimensions: 90 x 150 cm or 35.5 x 59 inches.
Price: SOLD

Fijian Islands

A large and impressive Fijian rootstock war club known as “Vunikau”. Carved from a single piece of tree spcifically chosen for the root structure giving the distal end a more menacing effect from the raised protruberances. While the but end tapers out slightly to give extra grip, and is decorated with incised motif said to represent tattoo designs. The head on this beauty bears a sollem human tooth, a trophy from one of its victims. Beatufilly balanced, with only one true purpose………………….. Deep glossy patina, in excellent condition. Circa mid 19th Century. Mounted on a steel display stand.

Height: 118 cm or 46.5 inches.
Price:SOLD

Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

An old Waghi Valley war shield. Carved from hard wood in classic deeply curved form; and decorated with trade paint, and pecked motif; bearing the logo “PLP” on the front top. Beautiful wear from age and use on the pigments, with a nicely encrusted patina on both the front and reverse. Minor loss evident on the base; in excellent condition.

Height: 154 x 62 cm
Price: SOLD

Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea.

An old Highlands war club. Carved from hard wood with a “pineapple” shaped distal end. Deep glossy handling patina with old loss to one of the ridges; in great condition.

Height: 93 cm or 36.5 inches
Price: $750.00 AUD