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Important Oceanic and African Art; Natural History, Curiosities and Oddities — Webb's

Auction House:Webb'sNumber of lots recorded:346
Sale Title:Important Oceanic and African Art; Natural History, Curiosities and OdditiesLots with images:340
Auction Location:AucklandPrices available:217
Date:14-Sep-2013
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Ramu bowl and figure miniature standing charm figure, together with a very small hollowed bowl with figural carving to end. Dry used patina. Height 13.5 cm. Width 3 cm. Length 19.5 cm. Width 8 cm
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Gope board ovoid flattened form with traditional raised motifs. White, black and orange natural pigment applied to surface. Length 38 cm. Width 18 cm
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Kukukuku salt pack Tightly bound with fibre in the Kukukuku area, soluble salt is extracted and crystallised. It is traded as currency in the Eastern, highlands. Length 69 cm. Width 10 cm
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Ramu river paddle carved paddle with raised decoration, figural carving to end. Dry, light brown patina. Length 169 cm. Width 12.5 cm
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Canoe prow, finely worked with carved decorations overall. May river, upper Sepik. Papua New Guinea. Height 72 cm. Width 15 cm
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Gleevick Bay canoe prow, figural carving of a human head with bird sitting atop. Pierced hole for suspension to end. Traces of red, green and blue pigment. Weathered dry patina. Length 45 cm. Width 23 cm
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Sepik walking stick, with a crocodile formed handle, cylindrical shaft with raised discs. Blackened patina. Length 99.3 cm. Width 15.5 cm
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Ancestral spirit figure, fine standing figure with hands on hips, counter opposed hook projections on the head, arms resting to top of hips, tapering legs. Misingi village, middle Ramu river, Papua New Guinea. Height 45 cm. Width 7.6 cm
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Ancestral spirit figure, fine standing figure with hands on hips, counter opposed hook projections on the head, tapering legs (damage to feet). Misingi village, middle Ramu river, Papua New Guinea. Height 50 cm. Width 7 cm
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Fine Sepik bone hook, attached Feathers, fine cassowary bone hook of flattened form. Hook carved into a bird form with feathers affixed. Length 35 cm. Width 50 mm
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Fine lime gourd elongated large gourd with intricate incised designs. Soft well-used patina. Oro Provence, Papua New Guinea. Length 41 cm. Width 8 cm
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Highlands belt wide bark based belt with intricate black and white woven overlaid zigzag pattern. Diameter 32 cm. Height 10 cm
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Kukukuku bags (2), finely woven bilum bags. Length 44 cm. Width 30 cm. Length 38 cm. Width 28 cm
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Finely woven bags (2), good examples in fine condition. Length 18 cm. Width 16 cm. Length 13 cm. Width 10 cm
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Group of woven adornment (9), finely woven sash's with natural dye decoration. Collected 1950. Vanuatu. Length 10 cm. Max
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Group of woven bags (7) Bilum of various size and design. Length 25 cm. Width 40 cm. Length 48 cm. Width 28 cm. Length 33 cm. Width 47 cm. Length 33 cm. Width 20 cm. Length 29 cm. Width 40 cm. Length 38 cm. Width 56 cm
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Stone bark Beater incised lines, fragmented. Kukukuku, Papua New Guinea. Length 14 cm. Width 4.5 cm
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Kukukuku stone pounders (3) Varying stone types and form with carved working to striking edge. Papua New Guinea . Length 28 cm. Width 2.5 cm. Length 21 cm. Width 6 cm. Length 26 cm. Width 4.5 cm
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Hafted adze, good early example stone adze tightly bound with cane to a well-used wooden shaft with a smokey dark-brown patina. Height 56 cm. Width 33 cm
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Hafted adzes and pipe (3) two work and one ceremonial adze together with a finely decorated pipe. Height 50 cm. Width 42 cm. Height 56 cm. Width 34 cm. Height 60 cm. Width 39 cm. Height 36 cm. Width 6 cm
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Hafted adze, fine example, green stone adze, tightly bound with cane and plaited orchid fibre to a wooden shaft. Rich well-used patina. Height 55 cm. Width 39 cm
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Ramu Sago pounder, large pick shaped pounder, wooden handle, hardwood pounding spike, bound with natural fibre. Carved figural end. Length 96 cm. Width 46 cm
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Hafted adze Cassowary bone pick, tightly bound with cane to a curved wooden handle. Height 44 cm. Width 33 cm
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Hafted adze black stone adze, tightly woven fibre binding to a cylindrical shaft, mid-brown well-used patina. Height 42 cm. Width 20 cm
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Greenstone worked slab worked nephrite stone of flattened ovoid form with a smooth finish. Papua New Guinea. Height 55 cm. Width 12 cm
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Cassowary bone dagger rounded, carved top with pierced hole, tapering blade. Soft, creamy patina. Sepik. Length 28.5 cm. Width 3 cm
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Cassowary bone dagger ceremonial dagger, flying fox head carving to top with a fine tapering point. Creamy, well-used patina. Sepik. Length 26.2 cm. Width 5 cm
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Cassowary bone dagger Cassowary bird form to top, fully carved pointed blade. Blackened with tones of red patina. Sepik. Length 31 cm. Width 8 cm
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Cassowary bone daggers (2), tapering blades with rich used patina. Sepik. Length 35 cm. Width 4.6 cm. Length 30.5 cm. Width 4.5 cm
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Cassowary bone dagger carved cassowary bird to top, with attached fibre leading to a tapering, fine blade. Soft, pale patina. Sepik. Length 31 cm. Width 10 cm
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Cassowary bone dagger dual bird form carving to top, figural carving to blade tapering to a point. Blackened, creamy patina. Sepik. Length 21.5 cm. Width 40 mm
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Cassowary bone dagger bird form top with large curved beak, carving to blade, early dark patina. Sepik. Length 20 cm. Width 6.5 cm
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Two Daggers, spatula, Spearhead (4) Cassowary bird bone daggers, together with a bamboo spearhead with attached fibre and a small wooden spatula with figure carved to top. Length 47.5 cm. Width 3 cm. Length 27 cm. Width 3.5 cm. Height 30 cm. Width 4.5 cm. Height 17 cm. Width 2.2 cm
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Shield, flattened rectangular form, raised bars to back, overall carving face to centre. Blackened with traces of white pigment. Attached natural fibre binding to back. Height 198 cm. Width 28 cm
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Clay bowl, early and fine bowl with decoration overall. Kombio - Boiken area, East Sepik. Height 13 cm. Width 17 cm
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Early clay bowl, fine bowl with two figural flying fox decoration to sides. Markham river, Morobe Provence, Papua New Guinea. Height 12 cm. Width 25 cm
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Terracotta clay figure standing figure with lineal decoration to body. (damaged). Aibom, Dimiri area, East Sepik. Height 30 cm. Width 24 cm
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Chimbu flutes (2) ovoid shaped whistles with linear decoration to bodies, three pierced holes to top. Clay. Length 9.5 cm. Width 5.8 cm. Length 9 cm. Width 5 cm
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Highlands pig whistle, of hollowed, flattened form with superb intricate decoration to blackened patina traditionally used in ceremonies of the 'Carry leg' the unique Karim leg, courting ritual, of the Sina Sina people in the Chimbu province. Young men blow notes on this whistle to attract the attention of a particular young girl. Height 15 cm. Width 120 mm
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Finely carved whistle overall carving with back to back abstract faces. Rich dark well used patina. Abelam people, Papua New Guinea. Length 14 cm. Width 9.5 cm
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Mouth harp cylindrical split bamboo with pyrographic decorations to top traditionally used in rituals alongside the ocarina and drums. Yaguma, Eastern, highlands. Length 21.5 cm. Width 2 cm
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Highland pipe cylindrical bamboo pipe with incised decorations to body. Soft well used patina. Length 36.5 cm. Width 5 cm
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Garamut drum carved wooden slit gong drum and beater, the cylindrical body decorated with relief carving on both sides with well executed figural handles. Aged patina, with a red pigment overall. Lower Ramu river, Papua New Guinea . Length 105 cm. Width 23 cm
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Kukukuku kilt, very fine and well constructed kilt, with bone, seed and cuscus appendages. Height 22 cm. Width 19 cm
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Ceremonial Aprons - Kilts (2), superb and fine examples with small cowrie shell decoration. Red, white and black decoration. Fibre stained with ochre, and tiny tambu shells to edge. Worn by the Bena and Asaro people, Eastern, highlands. Height 32 cm. Width 26 cm. Height 38 cm. Width 29 cm
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Highlands wedding Veil, a majestic example of a finely woven body with attached cowrie and nassa shell. Mother of pearl adornments attached to side. Length 77 cm. Width 26 cm
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Solomon Island adornment hand cut shell disc and trade beads necklace leading to a large central disc with gum decoration to edge. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Collected 1950. Length 21 cm. Width 23 cm
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Highlands adornment gold lip mother of pearl breast adornment. Well-used creamy patina. Height 15 cm. Width 20 cm
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Solomon Island adornment hand cut shell disc and trade beads necklace leading to a large central shell. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Collected 1950. Length 28 cm. Width 10 cm
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Clam shell necklace, large gold lipped mother of pearl breast plate with attached finely woven band. Circular decoration to top. Soft well-used patina. Length 23 cm. Width 21 cm
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Pair of Adornments (2) hand cut clam shell discs with large pierced hole for attached fibre. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Height 15 cm. Width 11 cm
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Mariki adornment bride price adornment with fine woven twine, tiny shells, and two large shell rings. Old label affixed (bought by Namu from Mariki people about 50 years ago and passed to his son Mai-ilau Namu in Kinomore village in Gulf Province). Length 38 cm. Width 5 cm
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Fine shell adornment hand cut half-moon shaped mother of pearl gorget, with overlaid shell, with attached hand cut disc beads and teeth, natural fibre string. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Collected 1950. Length 17 cm. Height 7 cm
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Large shell adornment, large and impressive shell necklace with shell and attached fibre. Papuan Gulf. Length 51 cm. Width 6.5 cm
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Hornbill adornment Hornbill beak to centre flanked by seven pigs tusks. Southern, highlands. Height 17 cm. Width 20 cm
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Yam Festival Adornments (2) woven into disc shapes with applied red and black pigments. Sepik. Length 20 cm. Width 15 cm. Length 16 cm. Width 12.8 cm
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Group of adornments. (2) Feathered skirt with fine indigo coloured band, together with a very finely woven cassowary feather headdress. Height 22 cm. Width 24 cm. Height 38 cm. Width 45 cm
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Group of Adornments (4) shell, one with attached cowrie shell and fibre. Kukukuku, Papua New Guinea. Diameter 5.8 cm. Diameter 6 cm. Diameter 6 cm. Diameter 6.2 cm
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Kukukuku fibre bound necklace with attached flying fox skulls. Attached teeth and orchid fibre cylindrical beads. Height 35 cm. Width 20 cm
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Group of Nose Adornments (4) two cylindrical tapering and two circular adornments. Soft well-used patina. Kukukuku, Papua New Guinea. Height 19 cm. Width 1.1 cm. Height 85 mm. Width 1.2 cm. Height 5 cm. Width 5.4 cm. Height 50 mm. Width 50 mm
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Highlands necklace dual boars tusk joined with fine fibre binding with attached job's tears bead necklace. Height 36 cm. Width 14 cm
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Pink shell necklace, finely cut shell discs with pierced holes to centre and attached woven fibre. Solomon Islands. Length 64 cm. Width 2 cm
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Highlands shell pectoral adornment, hollowed triangular form with two pierced holes for attachment good, early patina. Southern, highlands. Height 13.5 cm. Width 9 cm
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Group of adornments (4), early shell and fibre necklaces of varying sizes. Height 14 cm. Width 15.5 cm
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Pair of Adornments clam shell discs with large pierced hole for attached fibre. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Height 15 cm. Width 15 cm. Height 13 cm. Width 13 cm
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Shell Headbands (3), early examples with attached shell, fibre, fur highlands, Papua New Guinea. Length 47 cm. Width 14 cm. Length 40 cm. Width 10 cm. Length 40 cm. Width 11 cm
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Adornments (2) cylindrical tapering nose adornments, clam shell. Length 16.5 cm. Width 1.5 cm. Length 92, width 1.2 cm
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Early shell Headband, flattened pierced shells attached to fibre band with attached trade cloth. Papuan Gulf. Length 28 cm. Width 2 cm
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Kukukuku adornments (3) orchid fibre necklace bound with plaited string. Together with two arm adornments with orchid fibre beads attached to circular bound ties with cuscus appendages. Height 35 cm. Width 15 cm. Height 36 cm. Width 80 mm
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Phallocrypt - penis gourds (2) from Telefomin with basket weaving to top. Length 34 cm. Width 4 cm. Length 26 cm. Width 4 cm
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Phallocrypt - Penis Gourds over modelled gourds with clay and inlaid cowrie shells and human hair attached. Woven fibre bases. Sepik river. Length 22 cm. Width 8 cm. Length 23 cm. Width 9 cm
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Sacred flute ornament wooden, over-modelled mask with raised facial features and pierced septum, inset with shells, dog or quoll teeth and cassowary feathers. Slightly hollowed back with lug for attachment to the sacred flute. Pierced chin for attachment. Mid-20th century. Kambot village, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea . Height 7 cm. Width 11 cm
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Tortoise shell adornments (2) two small armlets, with incised linear decoration to surface. Dry patina. Diameter 5.7 cm. Diameter 5.5 cm
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Group of kukukuku adornments (6) dual tusk necklace with fibre binding and cuscus and job's tears chain. Four pigs tusks and an orchid fibre woven headband. Height 40 cm. Width 8 cm. Height 28 cm. Width 3.5 cm length 10 cm (4)
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Group of Adornments (9) hand-woven armbands, skirt and small billum piece. Length 36 cm. Width 30 cm. Length 36 cm. Max
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Solomon Island shell Currency hand carved and pierced shell with attached fibre. Malaita, Solomon Islands. Length 20 cm. Width 4.5 cm
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Solomon Island Breastplate adornment Tema, a superb example with a large disk of Tridacna shell with openwork turtle shell overlay representing frigate birds and fish. Tema were integral elements of the elaborate ceremonial attire worn by men at major dance festivals. Diameter 16.8 cm
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Solomon Island adornment, a very fine example with a large disk of Tridacna shell with very intricate openwork turtle shell overlay. Diameter 15 cm
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Aboriginal churinga, with incised linear and circular designs to both surfaces. Okirra (large kangaroo) totem. Traces of ochre. Old Museum label attached. Length 32.2 cm. Width 9 cm
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Aboriginal churinga, with incised chevron and linear designs to top. Square cut suspension hole. Dry brown patina. Length 22.5 cm. Width 3.9 cm
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Aboriginal Coolamon with longitudinal incisions. Fluting throughout the entire surface, early dry natural ochre patina. Length 67.2 cm. Width 7.6 cm
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Early Aboriginal club stone carved cylindrical form tapering to a squared handle. Traces of ochre with a rich dark black-brown patina. Length 135 cm. Width 4.5 cm
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Early Aboriginal bark painting, superb example with natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark. East Arnhem Land style subject is a rifle fish. Length 77 cm. Width 42 cm
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Boomerang, a good example in classic form with early dark brown patina. Length 69 cm. Width 5.8 cm
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Sentani figure male figure with arms resting to chest, legs slightly bent, standing on a circular base early weathered patina. Papua New Guinea. Length 71 cm. Width 17 cm
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Nias Island stool, anthropomorphic three legged stool with a flattened rectangular mid-section tapering cylindrical head to front hollowed end for attachment of a grater. Wood, early dark brown patina with good age and usage. Length 69 cm. Width 29.5 cm
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Philippine Gamelan holders with gong (6) Elaborately carved wooden elements and a stylised Barong front. Together with a circular gong, rich early well-used patina. Diameter 22 cm. Length 7.5 cm. Length 37 cm. Width 9 cm. Length 40 cm. Width 8 cm. Length 42 cm. Width 10 cm. Length 38 cm. Width 9 cm. Length 14.5 cm. Width 34.5 cm
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Large dance gong fashioned from brass collected from the Bajao Tribe 'Sea Gypsys' on a small island south of Jolo Island. Used in traditional dance ceremonies. Diameter 44 cm. Depth 21.2 cm
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Indonesian masks (2) wooden dance masks painted with attached fur. Height 21 cm. Width 24.5 cm. Height 12.5 cm. Width 15 cm
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Betel nut Chopper, tapered horn with seated figure to top and attached blade to centre for chopping. Length 25.8 cm. Width 3 cm
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Garuda statue Garuda bird on top of a barong, carrying Lord Vishnu. Magnificent ornate wood carving, multi coloured decoration. Java, Indonesia. Height 90 cm. Width 55 cm
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Gandhara frieze fragment grey schist relief panel depicting two followers of Buddha and an architectural column. From ancient Gandhara (north-west Pakistan), late 1st-2nd century AD. Height 19 cm. Width 16.5 cm
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Gandhara statue grey schist relief panel depicting a seated carved Buddha. Losses to left side, right hand and part of nose. Malakand district, from ancient Gandhara (north-west Pakistan), late 1st-2nd century AD. Height 32 cm. Width 18 cm
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Large bronze cast Buddha head serene face, elongated ears, with tight spiral coiffure. Thailand. Length 36 cm. Width 25 cm
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Classic Buddha head from Thailand. Calm expression to face. Length 19.5 cm. Width 19.2 cm (mask only)
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Superb Kordi Kilim wall hanging Entirely covered with embroidered geometric linear and figural designs. Depicting camels, humans, horses and butterflies rarely seen on these weavings very tight weave. Kordi tribe near Mashhad, Northeast Iran. Length 300 cm. Width 41 cm
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Group of swords (3) Dayak sword with carved sheath and finely carved bone handle inlaid old coin to top and metal inlay decoration to blade a Kris knife with metal sheath, ornate handle and guard carved from wood a Moro 'Kampilan' sword. Binding to carved and extended handle. Sourced from Museum of man, San Diego, 1956. Length 59.5 cm. Width 5 cm. Length 48 cm. Width 20 cm. Length 94.5 cm. Width 14.5 cm
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Hunza shield, bow and two arrows bow fashioned from Ibex horn and yak rawhide. Together with two arrows with metal points and feather fletching's. War shield of water buffalo hide, decorated with raised carvings. Traces of floral designs on surface. Attachments to back, one broken. Thought to be over 200 years old. Kashmir, Pakistan. Diameter 37.5 cm. Length 78 cm. Length 80 cm
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Nepalese and Tibetan knives (2) Gurkha knife from Nepal. Leather sheath and accessories. Carved wooden handle with good patina suggests a working knife. Tibetan knife with yak horn handle and inlaid detail. Worked metal and leather sheath. Length 40 cm. Width 7 cm. Length 21 cm. Width 2 cm
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Naga headdress and Sash, very early examples consisting of a finely woven belt with decorative geometric patterning and attached red and white hair. Together with a natural woven fibre head band with attached kauri shells and hair. Length 60 cm. Width 4 cm. Length 170 cm. Height 28 cm
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