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Auction House:
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Number of lots recorded:96
Lots with images:96
Prices available:96
Category:
LotDescriptionPriceImage
*** Two fine old Highlands Drums, one from the Western Highlands with fine incised geometric designs and an old patina, early 20th century, together with another old drum with fine designs and ochre painting on bottom. Provenance: Collected by Warwick Irvine… ***
*** A Western Highlands shield, Waghi Valley, Papua New Guinea 163 cm ***
*** A Southern Highlands shield, Papua New Guinea 140 cm ***
*** Two old Geelvink Bay canoe ornaments, field collected in Wandaman Bay, north Coast West Papua, 1985; these finely carved canoe ornaments were from a large war canoe that is no longer made, they were kept as memories of the grandparents and great… ***
*** A fighting shield, post-colonial period, Mendi Valley, Papua New Guinea, 135 x 52 cm ***
*** War shield, Lumi area, Torricelli Mountains, West Sepik Province, late 19th century, Lumi shields are greatly appreciated for their beautiful kidney shaped form, this is a fine old example, deeply carved designs and signs of use in battle. Provenance:… ***
*** A fertility figure, Yina, Nukuma people, Upper Sepik River, Papua New Guinea c.1960s, 146 x 35 cm ***
*** A fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea 147 x 37 cm ***
*** Dapeni Jonevari (Mokokari), (b.c.1949) Omie Papua New Guinea, Butote'e - Spiderwebs, 2013, natural earth pigments on nioge (barkcloth), Omie artists certificate of authenticity cat no. 13-007, 139 x 75 cm ***
*** A giant shell ring, 'Yua', Papua New Guinea, beautifully formed with a perfect central circle. The surface is so old it has calcified, also displaying the very strong growth rings of the clam. This ring is ancient. Diameter 26 cm ***
*** An Omie bark cloth Vivian Nranumi, Budo village Collected 2005. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 115 cm x 125 cm ***
*** A superb early Korwar pudding stirrer. 19th century Geelvink Bay region, Irian Jaya (formally Dutch New Guinea ). Provenance: Collected by a Dutch missionary stationed Merauke the administrative centre of Irian Jaya 1938 Ex: Italiander Gallery Amsterdam.… ***
*** A large Ambrym Island drum, Vanuatu, 282 cm ***
*** An ancestral drum, lizard skin intact with rattan binding, body of drum profusely carved in traditional interlocking Asmat design, dark deep patina, with cane handle, exhibiting patina from use, Asmat region, West Papua. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter… ***
*** A very important native rat tooth necklace, old label Reads 'Necklace made from flying fox teeth ( kapoul ) New Guinea 3.8.1925 ' 'The type of teeth are rat, a highly sought after food source in many parts of New Guinea, once I collected similar necklaces… ***
*** A fine Tami Island bowl, in the form of a bird, this fine old and well used bowl is of oval form, the back and sides forming the wings and tail of the bird. The well carved bird head finial has a fish or animal in its beak. Provenance: Francis Edgar… ***
*** A house board, April River,Papua New Guinea. Provenance: University of NSW library collection. This old house panel was deacessioned from the University of NSW library collection and was sold with a group of other old New Guinea artefacts including a… ***
*** A fighting shield, abstract triangular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Nipa Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 114 x 34 cm ***
*** An old large slit gong drum, Torricelli Mountains, West Sepik. Mounted on custom stand. Height 150 cm ***
*** Four old Geelvink Bay canoe ornaments, field collected in Wandaman Bay, north Coast West Papua, 1985; these finely carved canoe ornaments were from a large war canoe that is no longer made, they were kept as memories of the grandparents and great… ***
*** Bridal wealth Veil / ornament (ambusap), middle Sepik river area, this finely woven and shell decorated ornament was worn on the head during bridal ceremonies and is also an important form of traditional shell wealth that are family heirlooms. It is made… ***
*** An Asmat Jipae dance costume, Pupis village, Wasar River, NW Asmat area; Jipae costumes represent the recently deceased in the village, they represent both men and/or women and all have a personal name. The ceremony helps the spirits of the deceased pass… ***
*** A large & fine Moka Kina plaque, Western Highlands,Papua New Guinea, Moka Kina are a type of important traditional shell wealth consisting of a large gold lipped Kina shell embedded in resin on a wood base. They were used in bridal payments, funeral and… ***
*** A Buka Island portrait figure, with glossy black patina and head covering, Buka Island, Papua New Guinea, height 48 cm ***
*** Two fine old Ramu River area Paddles, with a finely incised stylized ancestor figure on both sides of the blade and full ancestor figure finial to top of paddle. Exhibited: Pacific Navigation Exhibition 2013 at Casula Powerhouse gallery *see photo 217 cm,… ***
*** A large ancestor/spirit figure of Wauken crocodile man; village of Yensinmungua, middle Sepik river, Papua New Guinea. Height 103 cm ***
*** An old fighting shield, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Height 152 cm ***
*** A bark painting, Arnhem land, Northern Territory, portion of old label verso (illegible). 149 x 66 cm ***
*** A rare and early Australian spear Thrower/Woomera, South-Eastern Australia, faint incised marks on face of central section, wooden notch peg attached with binding (probably kangaroo gut) and remnant glittering resin (possibly spinifex). Dark colour… ***
*** A large and superb traditional wealth belt consisting of ten strands of ground shell discs, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, length 237 cm ***
*** 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,… ***
*** Polynesian fishing tackle box, Tokelau, early 20th century. 31 cm ***
*** A superb Arawe pearl shell wealth object, New Britain, this beautiful gold lipped shell has shell money and dogs teeth decorations and an old woven band. These were used as a bride price payments and traditional currency. 60 cm ***
*** A Minja figure, wooden figure profusely carved on torso, prominent sex, remnant ochre decoration, some damage to feet A/F, Waskuk area Sepik river region PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, height 114 cm ***
*** Ten shell and beaded Kula ornaments, Massim people, Milne Bay Province,Papua New Guinea ; the Kula exchange or Kula ring, is a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Milne Bay Province. All Kula valuables are non-use items traded purely for purposes… ***
*** A South East Australian Aboriginal fighting implement with bulbous form to centre of shaft and both ends tapering to a point. Length 71 cm ***
*** A Lonka Lonka ornament, Western Australia. Length 17.5 cm ***
*** Three sets of pearl shell nose ornaments, Ramu area, 19th century; in graduated sizes as they were worn in a man's nose. These type of old nose ornaments called 'Ondogo' are depicted on old masks from the Ramu area and were worn by most men in pre-contact… ***
*** Four old bone lime spatulas, Abelam, left: a chiefly lime spatula with superb shell wealth decorations and incised designs; second from left: Madang area with shell and woven decoration; two far right: bone lime spatulas with finely carved parrot head… ***
*** A Lonka Lonka ornament Western Australia. Length 14 cm ***
*** A superb early Admiralty Islands food bowl, 19th century; of classical circular form, four stubby feet on bottom, the rim with a band fine incised triangular designs, diameter 32 cm ***
*** A Gope board, showing signs of age, extensively carved and decorated with red ochre, collection # 3.882.225, Siviri village, Karima area Papuan Gulf PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, Ex Deutscher & Hackett Lot 189,… ***
*** Two old boomerangs, both with incised designs, one has a spirit figure on both sides. Provenance: Lord Alistair McAlpine (1942-2014); a British businessman, politician and author who was an advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he was a lifetime… ***
*** Mick Kubarkku c.1924-2008 emu ochres on bark Maningrida area, Central Arnhem Land c.1960's Subsection Balang Clan: Kulmarru Moiety: Dhuwa Language: Eastern Kininjku inscribed verso Mick Gubaru (old spelling of artists name) 74 x 32 cm ***
*** An old trade axe, with carved and painted wooden haft decorated with woven tassels. Provenance: ex collection Guy Allen, plantation owner in New Britain before World War II, length 91 cm ***
*** An early Maori hand club, with finely executed design to both sides, face on handle terminus, minor chips have been repaired, 19th or early 20th century, New Zealand, length 41.5 cm ***
*** A large bark panel, Iatmul people, middle Sepik river, Papua New Guinea. Ex Moriarty collection: M02405 Acquired from Stephen Kellner 1954 . 187 cm x 136 cm ***
*** A shield, Wahgi Valley Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea 163 cm ***
*** A large dance mask, Rai Coast Papua New Guinea, 68 x 20 x 18 cm ***
*** A limestone figure, New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea. 96 cm ***
*** Three old canoe Paddles, lake Sentani, finely incised traditional designs including stylised fish on both sides of the paddle blade Exhibited: Pacific Navigation Exhibition 2013 at Casula Powerhouse Gallery. 158 cm, 164 cm, 165 cm (3) ***
*** A fine & early Rennel Island club, Solomon Islands, of good form carved from a dense hardwood and the handle grip has the original sennit binding. Provenance: The South Seas Evangelical Mission collection, late 19th century / Todd Barlin collection. 60 x… ***
*** A dance mask, Ramu River or coastal Sepik area, finely carved and painted with the red ochre, the round eyes are made from cut pearl shell. When this mask was used ceremonially, it would have been just the face of an elaborate costume that covered the… ***
*** Old war shield, Simbai area,Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Schrader Ranges, Madang Province, finely carved with clan designs and very old patina. Some arrow and spear tips embedded in the front of this shield. Early 20th century. Provenance: Collected by Jack… ***
*** Gourd head, from Enga or Southern Highlands Province, this beautifully made and decorated display head was collected at the mount Hagen show in 1985. A similar example is in the Stan Moriarty collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, it was… ***
*** An old ancestral spirit figure from Abelam Tribe Papua New Guinea 'Ngwalndu'. Height 177 cm ***
*** An unusual Aboriginal Beak-Form mulga wood club, lake Eyre/Coopers creek Region, South Australia, length 70 cm ***
*** Ceremonial boomerang, kangaroo Dreaming 1975, old Mick Walankari Tjakamarra (c.1914-1996), Papunya, Western Desert, NT, Mulga wood and synthetic polymer, 66 cm. Provenance: painted during 1975 at Papunya, Western Desert, purchased at the Aboriginal and… ***
*** A bark painting by Rosie Karedada (born c. 1927) Wandjina figure 1970's. Provenance: painted in Kalumburu, WA, Aboriginal and Pacific Art gallery Sydney, (Gabriella Roy). Kalumburu exhibition lot, number 10. Signed 'Rosie' verso. Private Collection, Only… ***
*** A Kini Kini war club, with finely incised design, Fiji, length 98 cm ***
*** A large example of a 'Bioma' figure Era river Region, Papuan Gulf New Guinea. Height 98 cm. Wood ochres and lime ***
*** A superb, painted, early north Queensland boomerang, 19th century, Australia, signs of use, minor chips and wear to painted surface as per image length 61 cm ***
*** Declan Apuatimi (1930-1985), a hard wood figure of a woman, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, with natural earth pigments. Provenance: The Andrew Korda & Susan Pearson collection, height 64 cm ***
*** Shield, Mendi Valley, Papua New Guinea. 144 cm ***
*** Arnhem Land Burial post with four pointed projecting protuberances, painted in ceremonial design. Provenance: Ex. Michael Leyland collection, this burial post was purchased 1968 from the Superintendent at the time of the Manninggerida Arnhem Land… ***
*** Two fine old woven and shell ornaments (Fofona), Bena Bena area, Eastern Highlands,Papua New Guinea, early 20th century; together with a fine old woven and shell armband, Madang, and Lumi woven and shell wealth object (Poli). 41 x 35 cm, 35 x 31 cm; 26 x… ***
*** A New Ireland Malangan figure. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 394 cm ***
*** A New Ireland Malangan figure. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 191 cm ***
*** A Kundu drum, lizard skin intact, profusely carved in traditional ancestral motif, patina on handle from use, Asmat region West Papua. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, height 99 cm ***
*** A Yangaru ancestral figure, of graceful form, traces of natural red ochre on torso, lower portions of arms and body missing, mounted on wooden stand, East Sepik Province PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, height 59 cm ***
*** An ancient Papuan Gulf drum, finely carved in two large ancestor faces on the fishtail part of the drum, dark patina overall. 75 cm ***
*** A Western Highlands war shield, Waghi Valley, Papua New Guinea 157 cm ***
*** A Sacred jet stone set special made Nets and shell money belt, collected by Todd Barlin after the funeral of the famous warrior Kurelu in 1988. Up to 20,000 Dani, Yali and Lani people came to his funeral. This sacred Je stone bundle was exchanged among… ***
*** A shield, Southern Highlands Kewa people 128 cm ***
*** A Gope ancestral board 'Titihebia, Goabari Island, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, height 71 cm ***
*** A fighting shield, post-colonial period, Mendi Valley, Papua New Guinea, 139 x 34 cm ***
*** A Yamate ancestor board, Eastern Mimika area, Kekwa village, south Coast West Papua; this finely carved and painted ancestor board. Collected by Todd Barlin on his first trip to the Mimika area in the 1980's. 180 x 20 cm ***
*** A Jipae dance costume, Sawa village, Northwest Asmat area, this finely woven costume was used in a 1988 Jipae Ceremony, this particular costume represented a recently deceased child named Verak. Jipae Costumes represent the recently deceased in the… ***
*** Tapa mask Nakanai people, New Britain. Provenance: Ex William Rubin collection (1927-2006). From 1968 to 1988, Rubin was a curator and director of the painting and sculpture department at the Museum of modern Art, located in New York city, New York . He… ***
*** A limestone figure, New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea. 76 cm ***
*** A fine old mount Hagen axe, together with a fine old hafted Massim adze, with incised stylised birds on handle and finial. 68 x 76 cm, 78 x 52 cm (2) ***
*** Karawari figure fragment (head only), Yimar people, upper Karawari River. Provenance: Ex. Barry Hoare collection 39 cm ***
*** Two New Guinea ancestor figures, [2], one middle Sepik ancestor figure of great whimsical abstract form that is seen in early New Guinea figures, together with an early Massim figure of classical form with hands held up to the chin. Provenance: from the… ***
*** A Yina figure, Kwoma people, Waskuk area, upper Sepik, this very expressive Yina has all the attributes of good Kwoma sculpture, looking at the side view the nose is suspended from the forehead, much of the original ochre painted designs intact. Yina is… ***
*** A clamshell, Barava, the Solomon Islands, 20th century, the Barava was broken across its centre and professionally repaired, 38 x 17 cm ***
*** Artist unknown, a small wooden Tiwi grave post, c.1970, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, natural earth pigments on hard wood. Provenance: The Andrew Korda & Susan Pearson collection, height 48 cm ***
*** A whale bone Sickle type club, Wuvulu Island, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: collected by Tim Herbert in the 1970s, height 131 cm ***
*** An oval fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, this shield has minimal carving or design; a strong central ridge, and minimal zig-zag motifs top and bottom. It is painted a strong and vibrant red - the colour of blood and… ***
*** Shield, Mendi Valley, Papua New Guinea. 145 cm ***
*** A Solomon Islands Prestige figural staff with shell inlay. Provenance: Private Collection Sydney before 1960. 103 cm ***
*** A boomerang, with profusely incised pattern to both sides, mounted. Western NSW. 62 cm ***
*** An Aboriginal ancestral figure, decorated with horizontal white ochre stripes. Northern Australia. Height 85 cm ***
*** Four old woven and shell armbands, Madang area, north Coast Papua New Guinea, early 20th century. 31 x 17 cm, 22 x 19 cm, 22 x 15 cm, 22 x 19 cm (4) ***
*** A Malangan figure, profusely carved and decorated with polychrome designs, inset shell eyes and some remnant hair inserts. Base in the form of a lug for display during Malangan. Provenance: Stanley & Co. Auctioneers, Sydney, August 18, 2003, Lot 225,… ***
*** A Wunda shield, Western Australia. Length 71 cm ***
*** Three Talipun bride price wealth objects, the talipun is highly valued and used in ceremonial exchange as a bride price or as compensation for inter-clan or tribal warfare. The shell is the giant green snail or marbled turban shell (Turbo marmoratus).… ***