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Tribal & Oceanic Art — Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction House:Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & ValuersNumber of lots recorded:206
Sale Title:Tribal & Oceanic ArtLots with images:205
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:139
Date:27-Jun-2022
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A mid 20th century hardwood Supe club, Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Provenance: Collected by an Australian soldier, height 67 cm, width 16 cm
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A mid 20th century hardwood Alafola club, Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Provenance: Collected by an Australian soldier, height 92 cm
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An old stone figure, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Collected by an Australian film maker whilst making a film in Papua New Guinea in the 1970's, height 36 cm, width 24 cm
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A mid 20th century hardwood Lunet friction drum, New Ireland. Provenance: Private Collection, Victoria, height 51 cm, length 18 cm, width 13.5 cm
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A long form woomera with hair tassel, Northern Territory, circa early 1900's. Provenance: Private Museum, Queensland, height 143 cm
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A mid 20th century hardwood Shona walking stick with knife, Zimbabwe, length 104 cm
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An old Dan mask, Liberia, Africa. Provenance: Ex. Patricia Fenton collection, NSW, height 28 cm, width 13 cm
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Three 19th century hardwood fighting clubs, Vanuatu. Provenance: Collected by John Paton (1824-1907) a missionary in the new Hebridies (Vanuatu), thence by descent to David Paton, heights 82 cm, 94 cm, 100 cm
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A 19th century dance Wand, Vanuatu. Provenance: Collected by John Paton (1824-1907), a missionary in the New Hebrides (Vanuatu), thence by descent to David Paton, height 64 cm, diameter 3.5 cm
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A pair of old flutes with woven fibre and shell bands, Papua New Guinea, bamboo with fine patina. Provenance: Collected by an Australian patrol Officer in the 1960's, height 51.5 cm to 53.5 cm
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Three old smoking pipes, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Collected by an Australian patrol Officer in the 1960's, length 19, 23.5, 30 cm
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A mid 20th century swordfish rostrum, on custom mount. Provenance: Ex. Private Museum, Queensland, length 115.5 cm, width 30 cm
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A pectoral ornament, Amanab, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea, apparently worn by men who have committed homicide. Old glossy patina on tusks. Provenance: Collected in 1963, height 40 cm, width 9 cm
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A mother of pearl Lonka Lonka, Kimberley Region, north Western Australia, with incised design decorated with ochre, height 15.5 cm, width 10.5 cm. Provenance: The James M Jackson collection
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Two mother of pearl ornaments, Kimberley Region, north Western Australia, with fine incised design, height 6.5 cm to 17 cm, width 3.5 cm to 12 cm. Provenance: The James M Jackson collection
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A giant clamshell ring, Yua, Prince Alexander Mountains, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, these shell rings are the most important wealth items among the Abelam and Arapesh, diameter 27 cm
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A large old hardwood mask, Ramu River, north coast, Papua New Guinea, this mask is bold and strong, used over many years. Early to mid 20th century, 66 x 25 x 23 cm
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A giant clamshell ring, Yua, Prince Alexander mountains, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, these shell rings are the most important wealth items among the Abelam and Arapesh, diameter 23 cm
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A pair of fine masks, Ramu River coast, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, both well carved and painted with amazing colours for ceremony. Both male masks, with long curled noses. 35 x 11 x 1 cm, 31 x 10 x 9 cm
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A hardwood ancestor figure, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, large cus-cus like eyes, squatting figure with curved back, 48 x 12 x 12 cm
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A woven Helmut mask, Baba, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, danced by men in initiation ceremonies by the Abelam people. It represents a powerful spirit - animal or bird, that protects the village, 76 x 28 x 44 cm
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A large fighting shield, Kamano or Okapa people, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, the top segmented circle is said to represent the sun, other designs landscape elements such as rivers and mountains. A crack near the base is stabilised with cane village repair, 163 x 68 cm
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Two yam masks, Abelam, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, one of light wood, surrounded by a woven headdress, the other is typical woven yam mask, bulbous in form, 29 x 29, 32 x 16 cm
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A large basket hook, Samban, Iatmul people, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, the hook is formed by a catfish head, an ancestor who protects household food, 66 x 17 x 16 cm
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A ceremonial dance mask, Ramu River, Papua New Guinea, soft orange pigmented colour, with eyes painted blue, 49 x 19 x 14 cm
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A bride price, wealth shell and mask, Talipun, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, the green turbo shell is the real wealth, and in the Yangoru region woven faces of ancestral beings are attached, 48 x 22 x 21 cm
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A pair of female ancestor figures, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, hardwood, finely carved, covered in a deep orange ochre, and also an overall patina, 18 x 10 x 8, 17 x 10 x 8 cm
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A large fighting shield, Kamano or Okapa people, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, the top segmented circle is said to represent the sun, other designs landscape elements such as rivers and mountains, 167 x 48 cm
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A pig killing apron, Imbonggu people, Ialibu, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, these have become very rare in recent years, and highly prized. Red and yellow pigments, 48 x 34 cm
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Two pearl shell pectorals, Kina, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, used in ceremony by men and women, and also as objects of wealth, 36 x 20 cm, 38 x 21 cm
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A large wooden Helmut mask, Baba, with feather headdress, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, these wooden Babas are made in only a few villages and are rare, height 68 cm, diameter 28 cm
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Two ancestor figures, one male and one female, both with head dresses, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, the woman wears a grass skirt and ornaments, the man has unusual green pigments, 45 x 10 x 10 cm, 45 x 10 x 10 cm
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Three betel mortars, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, used by older men to make it easier to grind the betel nut into a paste, 20 x 7 cm, 13 x 6, 5 x 9 cm
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Three yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, made of woven cane, these masks decorate the yams during the annual yam lining ceremony, 18 x 18 cm, 19 x 15 cm, 19 x 17 cm
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A woven helmet mask, Baba, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, danced by men in initiation ceremonies by the Abelam people. It represents a powerful spirit - animal or bird, that protects the village, 49 x 25 x 38 cm
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Two pigment dishes, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, used to mix pigments, particularly in painting ritual or magical events, 28 x 7, 22 x 7 cm
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Three ancestor figures, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, these are protective figures to keep evil influences away. Painted in orange earth ochres, 30 x 9, 28 x 8, 28 x 9 cm
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Four body ornaments, necklaces and Headbands, incorporating teeth, fibre and Nassa shells, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, lengths 30 cm, 27 cm, 38 cm, 46 cm
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A protective mask, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, round in form with shell eyes. The nose is engraved with the face of a possum, decorated with red pigment, 32 x 22 cm
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Two yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, one large with a headdress and cockatoo head; a smaller open mask, yellow and white pigments, 44 x 24 x 16, 13 x 20 cm
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An ancestral mask, with long nose Finishing in a bird's head, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, these masks are not worn but attached to large dance costumes in the Murik lakes, 66 x 11 x 9 cm
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Three ritual smoking pipes, Mendi valley, Papua New Guinea, these were used ritually in the men's house with local tobacco, length 33, 30, 23 cm
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An old oil container, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, reinforced with woven cane; the oil is used to cover body during ceremonies so that it glowed. Ritual smoking pipe engraved on main stem, height 36, 26 cm
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A Nassa shell wealth waist band, Wafu, Torocelli mountains, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea, one side has been damaged and village repaired, 46 x 18 cm
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Two hardwood clap sticks, Central Australia, one with burnt poker work design, length 36 cm and 37 cm
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A superb old cassowary bone dagger and a cassowary bone hair ornament, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, both showing old glossy patina, the hair ornament in the abstract form of a hornbill bird, length 19 cm and 36 cm
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A fine turtle bone bread fruit Splitter, Solomon Islands, with fine sennit binding, length cm 49 cm
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A pair of old incised whistles, Papuan Gulf Region, Papua New Guinea, made from a small coconut shell and with heavily incised design, height 11 cm & 9 cm
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A fine old boomerang, Eastern Australia. Probably stone carved with glossy patina, length 44 cm
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A fine old Dan passport mask, Ivory Coast, with deep old encrusted patina and sign of insect activity verso, height 13 cm, width 7 cm
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An old African mask, with faint black lined pattern to face, signs of wear and portion of top missing a/f, height 34 cm, width 21 cm
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A carved wooden fish by Larkin Christian, Pitcairn Island, 'Larkin Christian, Pitcairn Island' has been incised onto one fin with metal stamp. Crack on tail. Made by a descendent of Fletcher Christian from the famous Mutiny on the Bounty, length 45 cm, height 13 cm
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Two large bailer shell chest ornaments, Papua New Guinea, the larger with old binding attached from the Highlands region; the smaller from the Sepik. Both exhibiting patina from considerable age, 22 x 14 cm & 24 x 19 cm
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A fine old ground clam shell chest ornament, West Papua, with original bush string binding, D 9 cm
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A pair of old hardwood line markers, Japan, these tools were used in the construction of traditional Japanese wooden houses to mark lines for the placement of beams. A string is drawn through the ink soaked fabric in the well of the implement. One with Japanese stamp to base. One has repair to arm holding string spool, length 22 cm and 21 cm, widths 9 cm and 10 cm
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A old and Weathered ancestral figure, Kanangra village, Blackwater river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, the left portion joining torso and hip is missing, height 53 cm
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A fine old Toraja Tau Tau bust, south Sulewesi, Indonesia, with old patina and shell inlaid eyes. Minor chips to ears and a few small borer holes. Provenance: Ex. Dr. Hugh Gallagher collection, Sydney, height 27 cm
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A pair of Pia Pia figures, Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, these figures were kept in the house and not placed in the tomb. The arms are detachable and held in place with wooden pegs. On custom mounts. Provenance: Ex. Dr. Hugh Gallagher collection, Sydney, height 62 cm
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A mosquito mask, Turubu, coastal Sepik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, repair to beak, 60 x 19 x 16 cm
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An African ebony head and a ceremonial axe, mount Hagen Region, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea
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A mount Hagen stone axe, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Purchased at Sotheby's Australia circa 1994, height 59 cm, width 61 cm
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A shield, Ramu River, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, height 108 cm, width 39 cm
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A 19th century fine Admiralty Islands ancestor figure, Manus Islands, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Christie's London, November 8, 1977, lot 59, 83.5 cm
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An early Bioma figure, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, wood with natural ochres. Provenance: Collected by Roy Hedlundin 1961. Morton D. May collection, Saint Louis Art Museum, Accession no. E252542.109, height 69 cm
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An Agiba skull rack, Kerewa or related group, Kikori river Delta or Turama river, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, wood & pigments. Very few 'Agiba' have carved full figures as in this example. Included is Roy Hedlud's photo from 1961, it is at the far right. Provenance: Collected by Roy Hedlund, 1961. Ex Carlebach gallery, New York. Denver Art Museum, Denver, inv. 1953.533/358-Qm-G. (Deaccessioned 2017). Gregory Ghent, Santa Fe, height 70 cm
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A pair of rice Gods, Bulul, Northern Luzon, Philippines, figures such as these were carved to ensure a successful rice harvest. Old ritual patina, chip to base, 67 cm
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A rare ancestor figure, Porapora river Region, Papua New Guinea, collected in the 1970's. Figurative carving from this region is extremely rare, many institutions do not have examples, height 89 cm
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A large mask, Eharo, Western Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, made for the Heveve cycle by the Elema people. These masks are amongst the most recognisable of all Papuan Gulf artefacts with the Australian Museum in Sydney holding the largest assembled collection of these outstanding masks, height 75 cm
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A pair of 19th century Aboriginal spear Throwers, port Essendon, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory, one painted example decorated with a crocodile and other figures, the other with spinifex gum resin binding to notch peg. Old collection labels attached which inaccurately locate port Essendon near Melbourne. Provenance: Collection of Mr a Elliot, Beccles, Suffolk, UK. Tost & Rohu's, Martin place, Sydney, before 1928, 8 x 46 cm, 9 x 49 cm
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An old war shield, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, wood with natural ochres, original carrying strap extant, height 132 cm
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An early ancestral figure, Yuat river Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, wood with ochre decoration showing considerable age. Carved in classic Yuat river hunkered form, this figure comes from a rare collecting area. Provenance: Private Collection, Hamburg, Germany, height 44 cm
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An important post figure, Kanak people, New Caledonia, standing on a post this figure wears a collar of high status around the neck. Her hair is done up in a formal Kanak style. Black patina. Provenance: Private Collection, France, reportedly acquired in the 1920's, height 139 cm
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A ceremonial figure from the top of a headdress, Southern New Britain, Papua New Guinea, ochres, shells and natural earth pigments on wood. Provenance: Caspian gallery, Sydney, height 46 cm
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A large and impressive ceremonial early 20th century scoop, Kilenge people, Western New Britain, Papua New Guinea, with superb Janus head decoration. On custom mount. Provenance: from a Scottish estate sale, circa 2010. For a similiar facial treatment see; Kilenge, Art and life, Philip J C dark, page 84, plate 102, height 113 cm
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Robert Percy Moore. New Zealand, 1881-1948. Poi dancers, Rotorua c. 1923 - 1928. Panoramic hand coloured photograph in wooden frame 29 x 105 cm. Condition: mould marks on back, 19 x 95 cm. Medium: Panoramic hand coloured photograph
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A war shield, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, height 111 cm, width 42 cm
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A war shield, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, condition: crack in the top, height 116 cm, width 34 cm
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A ritual figure, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, used in initiation ceremonies where they represent powerful ancestors, 85 x 21 x 10 cm
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A ceremonial mask, Mwai, Iatmul people, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, a significant mask that, in ceremony, is attached to a giant basketry costume, Awan, that covers the dancer's entire body, 70 x 24 x 13 cm
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A ceremonial dance mask, coastal Sepik / Ramu River Region, Papua New Guinea, used in village dancing. A large, old mask, well carved with subtle paint, 70 x 24 x 13 cm
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Two old dance masks, Timor, both collected in 1970's. The mask on the right is much older, probably early 20th century, 16 x 17, 16 x 18 cm
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A large old dance mask, Timor, collected 1970's. Some traces of fur that originally formed eyebrows and moustache, 30 x 18 x 16 cm
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Two ancestral pieces, Timor, one large sitting ancestral dog, with fine engraving. The other a small but old mask. Collected 1970's, 38 x 14 x 14, 12 x 15 cm
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Two ancestor figures, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, one with bird, finely carved and painted. The other, on large circle with snake and frog, 51 x 12 x 12, 42 x 18 x 18 cm
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A canoe prow, 'Wave Splitter', Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, old and well weathered from use, 40 x 21 cm
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Two yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, left, finely woven, beautifully painted, not so old. Right, fine cockatoo face, old and traces of paint, collected in 1970's, 33 x 22, 44 x 15 cm
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An old ceremonial lime container, Iatmul people, middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea, very finely carved; colours darkened with smoke; some pearlshell decoration. Used in initiation ceremony. Collected 1970s, 98 x 11 x 6 cm
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A Bioma figure, Papua Gulf, Papua New Guinea, finely carved and painted. Collected in Papuan Gulf in the 1970's, 86 x 16 cm
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Two old dance masks, Java, Indonesia, collected 1970s. These are both early and used examples of Javanese masks, 18 x 1 19 x 16 cm
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An ancestor figure, Timor, very detailed, and fine carving. The figure was not so old when collected in 1970s, but extremely finely carved, 42 x 8 x 9 cm
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Two Carver's Hammers, Papua New Guinea, the larger from the Sepik River, engraved butterfly on one side. The smaller, old and well-used from the Trobriand Islands, 45 x 12, 24 x 6 cm
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Three hardwood carved pigs, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, length 19, 10, 12 cm
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A head hunters horn, Iatmul people, Middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea, heavily and beautifully carved. Collected 1970's. Traditionally carried by headhunters into battle, height 47 cm, diameter 10 cm
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Two tobacco containers, Timor, Indonesia, small boxes that can be carried in a personal bag for use during the day, 10 x 11, 11 x 12 cm
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Three hardwood carved pigs, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, lengths 14 cm, 13 cm, 12 cm
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Three wooden tobacco containers, Timor, Indonesia, all finely carved. Small boxes that can be carried in a bag or even a pocket, for personal use, height 8, 7, 8 cm
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Three bone lime containers, Indonesia, engraved, with wooden stoppers in the form of ancestor head, height 14 cm
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A tobacco container, Timor, with dramatic stopper in the form of a stylized horse and rider, 31 x 8 cm
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A pair of Bulul rice Gods, Ifugao, Philippines, height 46 cm to 49 cm, width 11.5 cm to 12 cm
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A set of nine 19th century bronze opium weights in the form of a Hansa, Burma, height 1.4 cm to 6 cm
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