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Auction House:
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Number of lots recorded:96
Lots with images:96
Prices available:96
Category:
New Guinean
LotDescriptionPriceImage
*** Maramba ancestral mask, profusely carved and decorated with natural earth ochres and fibre tassels, and cowrie shell eyes. Provenance: ex. Collection of the University of New South Wales, Maramba village, Sepik river region,Papua New Guinea, 64 x 20 cm ***
*** A fabric and cane dance head-dress, Papuan Gulf Region, Papua New Guinea, 57 cm ***
*** A war shield, Western Highlands Province,Papua New Guinea; with unusual pecked deigns mainly in the form of four pointed stars over the entire face of the shield. (a small crack repair). 136 x 44 cm ***
*** Two old Tapa cloths, Tep Tep area, Madang Province, 63 x 50 cm, 43 x 45 cm ***
*** An old figure, Murik Lakes, lower Sepik Womens figure 33 cm ***
*** Two prehistoric stone bowls Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Collected 1960s by Australian patrol officer, Stan Tyler. Length 22 cm & 17 cm ***
*** An early Admiralty Islands Obsidian Bladed spear, together with an Obsidian Bladed dagger, [2], spear with a carved crocodile, ochre painting and fine binding, dagger with tradition resin handle and sharp fine flaked blade. Both late 19th century.… ***
*** A large coastal Sepik ancestor figure, c. 1950's, a finely carved figure with exaggerated bird beak nose which is fully seen only in profile. The type of head ornament worn on this figure was the type men along the coastal Sepik area and Schouten Islands… ***
*** A large New Guinea statue, with protruding eyes, ochre design and shell inlaid with native putty on face (damage to lower section) and grass fibre loin covering, Sepik river region, PNG, 265 x 60 cm ***
*** A fighting shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 137 x 42 cm ***
*** A giant clamshell ring, Yua Yangoru, Sepik river Region, Papua New Guinea, diameter23 cm ***
*** A giant clamshell ring 'Yua', Yangoru area, Prince Alexander Mountains, Papua New Guinea, a band of fine shells & fibre adorning it, an important bridge price wealth object, diameter 23 cm ***
*** An Angoram ancestral figure, in fretwork design decorated with cowrie shells and cassowary feathers, Angoram village, Sepik river, Papua New Guinea, height 141 cm ***
*** An Omie bark cloth Batila Kimikimi, 2005. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 134 cm x 87 cm ***
*** 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 ***
*** A large shield, Wahgi valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, the shield is tall and narrow, with a bold motif in yellow and white. The central circle is said to be the 'Navel', and the radiating black lines can be interrpted as an abstract figure -… ***
*** 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 ***
*** An Asmat shield, West Papua, height 192 cm ***
*** Two stone figures, Banks Island. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 75 cm & 44 cm ***
*** Four fine old woven and shell ornaments (Fofona), Bena Bena area, Eastern Highlands,Papua New Guinea; early 20th century. 40 x 32 cm, 36 x 27 cm, 28 x 26 cm, 42 x 36 cm (4) ***
*** Three canoe prow ornaments, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: David Baker Collection. ***
*** Five old Nassa shell and woven ornaments, including: three Lumi area (Poli) wealth objects, together with two nassa shell headbands from the Eastern Highlands. 31 x 29 cm, 28 x 22 cm, 37 x 16 cm, 39 x 13 cm, 51 x 11 cm (5) ***
*** A New Ireland Malangan figure A/F with parts, 186 cm ***
*** An important early bone harpoon, Asmat,Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Leo Fleischmann collection no. LF/I87 Fleischmann was the manager of gallery Primitif in Sydney from 1967 to 1993, and he had one of the finest collections of Oceanic clubs &… ***
*** A box of Oro Province ornaments, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: David Baker Collection. ***
*** A large old food bowl, coastal Ramu, early 20th century; of elegant elongated oval form, and finely carved crocodile heads forming the handles and with ancient patina. 85 x 27 cm ***
*** A New Ireland ceremonial disk, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 78 cm diameter ***
*** A fighting shield, yellow and white circular and semi-circular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Lai Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 139 x 38 cm ***
*** A Garamut drum, profusely carved with traditional design on both sides, and a male figure at each terminus, mounted on a custom steel stand, Murik Lakes, lower Sepik river region Papua New Guinea, length 205 cm ***
*** An old Tapa cloth, Tep Tep area, Madang Province, 92 x 70 cm ***
*** A New Guinea war shield, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea. Length 124 cm ***
*** An old basket hook, huon Gulf. Ex- Daalders collection, early 20th century 30 cm ***
*** A ceremonial headdress, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands Province, finely made from bark cloth and resin over a cane frame, decorated with croix seeds, shells, feathers and ochre painted. This type of headdress was unique to the Wahgi Valley clans. See… ***
*** Two old Mendi Valley Axes, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea ; together with another old Highlands axe on a custom stand. Provenance: Collected by Warwick Irvine in 1968 57 cm x 50 cm, 51 cm (2) ***
*** A Gope board, Papuan Gulf, finely carved and painted with red and white ochres. 151 x 31 cm ***
*** Two old Zoomorphic Neckrests, [2], Okapa District Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea . Provenance: Collected by Peter Hallinan (1938-2015) in the 1970's. Peter was a well-known and respected field collector of New Guinea Art. See attached photo… ***
*** Two finely woven Abelam Baba Tagwa masks, the Abelam and neighboring peoples of the Prince Alexander Mountains in the Sepik region of northeast New Guinea create several types of basketry masks. They include the type seen here, known in the Abelam… ***
*** An early & fine Massim Sorcerers staff finial, late 19th century, carved from hardwood the finial has two finely carved full squatting figures back to back, the legs and arms all covered with incised spiral designs and infill lime decoration, below the… ***
*** A giant Clamshell ring, 'Yua', a large YUA, with perfect circular centre, decorated with fine and carefully graded nassa shells, woven onto a fibre band. This YUA also has the cut designs on one edge, sometimes interpreted as the hornbill beak. These are… ***
*** A New Guinea war shield, April river, Sepik region, Papua New Guinea, c.1950s, with vibrant design incised into face and decorated with natural earth pigments. Provenance: Carl Shipman collection Carl Shipman was an astute Australian collector of… ***
*** A massive Tami Island feast bowl, Papua New Guinea, with incised designs to both sides, decorated with pipe clay 93 x 42 x 22 cm ***
*** Six old shell wealth ornaments, Sepik area,Papua New Guinea; including old shell and teeth and trade bead ornaments. 12 - 45 cm (6) ***
*** A fighting shield, Kamano tribe, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, this is a thick, but not heavy shield; with good pandanus and cane binding at the top, painted design of 'The Sun'. A fine, early shield, height 135 cm, width 55 cm ***
*** Two dance masks, Rai coast, north coast, Papua New Guinea, both very fine and detailed in their workmanship. Both older masks (circa 1940s-50s) and used together in ceremony. Often such masks represent two Brothers, of myth and creation. Worn by two men,… ***
*** 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 ***
*** A collection of eight shell and seeded ornaments, the main ornament being a large and fine bride price shell necklace from West New Britain with shell money dangles, plus various others. 40 cm (8) ***
*** An Asmat canoe prow, in the form of a male figure with two stylised ancestral creatures, weathered from use, Asmat region, West Papua. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, length 110 cm ***
*** A ladle, Admiralty Islands, late 19th century; the intricately carved wood handle could be seen as an abstract human figure. Provenance: B. L. Hornshaw collection (1878-1937); Hornshaw was an avid collector of Pacific and Australian Aboriginal artefacts,… ***
*** A flute mask, elaborate carved design decorated with natural earth ochres, designed to be strapped to a flute during ceremony, on custom metal stand, Ramu river, East Sepik Province PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, height… ***
*** An old Massim lizard shaped bowl, early 20th century; finely carved in the form of an elongated lizard, the front of the bowl has two small lizards carved in high relief, pecked designs over most of the surface. Provenance: Alex Philips, Melbourne. 62 cm ***
*** An ancestral mask, Murik lake Region on stand. Lower Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Length 43 cm ***
*** A fighting shield, red circular and semi-circular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 112 x 33 cm ***
*** A large and fine Asmat drum, Ocenep village, circa 1950s-60s. Ex Catholic Mission collection, Basim, coastal Asmat area. 122 cm ***
*** Three 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… ***
*** An ancestor figure, Central Asmat, sensitively carved by a master carver or wow ipitsj. Provenance: Todd Barlin purchased this figure from the Catholic priest at Basim village in the early 1980's. 46m ***
*** Two prehistoric stone bowls and club head, Mendi Valley Southern Highlands. Ex Stan Tyler collection, patrol officer 1960s 13 cm x 11 cm,. Diameter 13 cm & 21 cm ***
*** Two old Angu (Kukukuku) war clubs, Morobe Province, early 20th century; one on a custom stand. The Angu people, also called Kukukuku, are a small and previously violent tribe, they are speaking a number of related languages and living mainly in the high,… ***
*** An old wood trumpet, Sepik River area, finely incised over entire surface the finial is carved with small crocodile head. 40 cm ***
*** A large Papuan Gulf bullroarer Purari Region, Papuan Gulf New Guinea. Height 66 cm. ***
*** A mosquito dance mask, Turubu mountains, coastal Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, height 57 cm ***
*** A giant clamshell ring 'Yua', Yangoru area, Prince Alexander Mountains, Papua New Guinea, an important bride price wealth object, diameter 24 cm ***
*** A giant clamshell ring 'Yua', Prince Alexander Mountains, Papua New Guinea, used as the most important part of bridge price by the Abelam & Boiken people, size & colour are important in quality, sometimes buried to protect from attacking enemies, diameter… ***
*** An adze handle, Massim Region, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 48 cm, width 19 cm ***
*** A giant clamshell ring, Yua, Prince Alexander mountains, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, used as wealth objects, important especially in buying a wife. Cut from clamshell using bamboo and sand. Diameter 23 cm ***
*** A large old dance mask, Rai coast, Papua New Guinea, the mask is large and dramatic, with shell eyes, a strong nose, knobs around the forehead and surmounted by a crocodile figure on the forehead. This mask probably dates to 1940's or 1950's, height 65 cm… ***
*** A stone chalice, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, a rare and beautiful stone bowl of chalice-shape. Inside there is a double level of bowl - very rare. The red oches show it has been used for magic. These bowls were made by a previous… ***
*** A Timbuwarra figure, Papua New Guinea. 98 cm ***
*** A New Ireland Malangan figure. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 124 cm ***
*** A small Amulet figure, Konkornba people, upper Volta River, Ghana; Ex. Dalton Somare gallery, Italy. 25 cm ***
*** A fire dance mask Baining people New Britain with penis sheaf 135 x 85 cm ***
*** A Keram river figure, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea on stand. Length 17 cm ***
*** Two fine and large Marind Anim Drums, with original field collection labels: left in photo: Sangase village, right: Kumbe village, Moro River, Owner: Johanes Kaise. 'I made many trips to the Marind Anim between 1985-1999 both to visit friends and make… ***
*** A large ceremonial headdress, Abelam East sepik 104 cm ***
*** A pair of beaded Armbands, Admiralty Islands 17 cm x 13 cm ***
*** Two old Sepik river spear Throwers, [2], one of the 'Bamboo type' with a finely carved wood ornament in the form of a stylized bird, the other made from a single piece of hard wood with fine incised designs on both sides and old patina. Provenance: Todd… ***
*** War shield, wood with ochre design to face. A/F, Highlands region,Papua New Guinea, 120 x 40 cm ***
*** A fine Sepik suspension hook, in the form of a human figure with arms hanging loosely and cowrie shell eyes, Latmul people, Sepik river, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Galleries Primitive Woollahra, purchased 1960's, length 120 cm ***
*** A large Hunstein mountains cult hook, of impressive proportions with three sets of arching hook protrusions around a central lug. The Hunstein Ranges area was first entered by Australian Patrol officers in the mid 1960's. This piece would date from the… ***
*** A fighting shield, post-colonial period, Nembi Plateau, PNG ***
*** Two well used pestles, Papua New Guinea and an ancestral figure, Indonesia (2), length 20-23 cm ***
*** A New Guinea Highlands stone object in the form of an anteater, Papua New Guinea ***
*** A splash board, Trobriand Islands, 55 cm ***
*** Two small Amulet figures, Geelvink Bay, these two genuine old and used amulets were bought from old men an Ansus village, Japen Island in 1985. 11.5 cm, 19 cm ***
*** An ancestral figure, Blackwater river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea; damage to leg, A/F. Height 41 cm ***
*** Two old Mimika Paddles, Mimika area, south Coast West Papua; finely incised with classical abstract Mimika designs that represent ancestor figures like on Yamate boards. Exhibited: Pacific Navigation Exhibition 2013 at Casula Powerhouse gallery. 203 cm,… ***
*** An early Asmat female ancestor figure, Ocenep village, circa 1950's-1960's; Ex Catholic Mission collection, Basim village, coastal Asmat. 55 cm ***
*** 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 ***
*** An ancestral figure, with elongated nose which traditionally resulted from the inconsolable tears caused by the grief ancestral spirits felt on killing the first crocodile, wood with natural ochre decoration and fibre bindings, Sangriwa village,… ***
*** A Gope board, with stylised figure incised to front with exaggerated head, decorated with natural earth pigments, Papuan Gulf region PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, length 145 cm ***
*** A huon Gulf paddle and one dark wood paddle, with profuse intricate incised design at paddle base, some damage to one side, binding repair to shaft, huon Gulf PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, length 182 cm ***
*** An early New Britain dance mask, wood with natural ochre decoration, inside mask is written 'Aua is, New Britain Papua New Guinea . Provenance: Barton Antiques, Sydney, acquired in the 1960s, height 33 cm ***
*** A fighting shield, Nipa valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea 118 x 36 cm ***
*** Eight clamshell rings, Yua, Yangou Region, Papua New Guinea (8) ***
*** A fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, oval in shape, with a strong central spine. The triangular motifs around the edges are curved ( unusual) to be like waves in orange and white. The interior is blue (Reckitt's blue?)… ***
*** Various strands old shell money, New Guinea, old label reads 'Diuarra shell money New Britain, pres LRH 1910' Provenance: B. L. Hornshaw collection (1878-1937) Hornshaw was an avid collector of Pacific and Australian Aboriginal artefacts, he received many… ***
*** A war shield, Merawaka area, Eastern Highlands Province, with incised and painted designs the central motif is a lizard. 136 x 51 cm ***