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The Todd Barlin Collection, Part 1 — Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction House:Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & ValuersNumber of lots recorded:311
Sale Title:The Todd Barlin Collection, Part 1Lots with images:311
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:303
Date:17-Aug-2015
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An early Maori house carved board, early 20th century, with fine spiral designs and vertical indent patterns, and original red colour. Old Australian collection. 134 x 29 cm
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A Neckrest, Tonga, 19th century; this classic neckrest of the type called Kali Hahapo, its elegant form carved out of a single piece of hardwood. Many people describe the form as 'Soft and beautiful like a woman's hips'. The bottom of the neckrest shows evidence of extensive coral rasping to finish the fine form like most all of the earliest examples show. (minor chips from long use but no restorations). Provenance: Nicolai Mitchoutchkine collection (1929-2010). Mitchoutchkine had a large Oceanic Art…
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A shark tooth knife, Gilbert Islands, Micronesia, an old early 20th century knife with all the original teeth intact. Ex. B. L. Hornshaw collection. 34.5 cm
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A bowl, Wuvulu (Matty Island), Papua New Guinea, the people of Wuvulu in Manus Province are a Para Polynesian group of people. Their elegant bowls are known for their unique and sophisticated hourglass shape, this bowl has old patina with encrustations. 36 cm
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A Mangia Island adze, Cook Islands, 19th century; finely carved on custom made stand. 68 cm
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A fishing tackle box, Tokelau (Micronesia), late 19th century; finely carved and with pearl shell inlay design on all four sides. Provenance: B. L. Hornshaw collection (1878-1937) Hornshaw was an avid collector of Pacific and Australian Aboriginal artefacts, he received many of his pieces from people who lived and worked in the Pacific in the late 19th century. 19 x 25 cm
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Two large Fijian Tapa cloths and a large Tongan Tapa cloth, various sizes. (3)
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A fine old Tapa Wallace or Fortuna Island, French Polynesia. Provenance: Nicolai Mitchoutchkine collection (1929-2010). Mitchoutchkine had a large Oceanic Art collection that toured Europe, the USA and Japan in the 1980's, he made two publications; 'Ethnography & Art of Oceania ' the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1989. 176 x 47 cm
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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
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A superb old Polynesian kava bowl, Tonga, 19th century; in the form of a traditional stylized turtle with four legs and ancient patina from extensive use. Provenance: Francis Edgar Williams (1893-1953); Williams was the assistant government anthropologist in Papua in 1922-24 and a keen collector of Ethnography, diameter 52 cm, Ht.19 cm
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A fine old Polynesian kava bowl, Tonga, early 20th century; in the form of a traditional stylized turtle with four legs and old patina from extensive use. Provenance: Francis Edgar Williams (1893-1953) Williams was the assistant government anthropologist in Papua in 1922-24 and a keen collector of Ethnography, diameter 53 cm, height 17.5 cm
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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
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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 Williams (1893-1953) Williams was the assistant Government Anthropologist in Papua in 1922-24 & a keen collector of Ethnography. 58 x 23 cm
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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
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A bowl in horseshoe crab form, huon Gulf, carved from hardwood with fine anatomical detail. Provenance: Ex. Alex Philips collection, Melbourne. 42 x 127 cm
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Two fine old pottery vessels, Giriwa people, Ramu area, these rare old pots are in near perfect condition, they are of elongated bullet shape with bands of incised designs near the neck and opening. 35 cm each (2)
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Two old Boiken plates, coastal Sepik area, both of these plates are very old, they have deep incised spirit faces decorations and the one on the right has a double flying fox in high relief. Collected on Kairuru Islands in the early 1980's. 43 cm each (2)
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Two old Boiken plates, coastal Sepik area, both of these plates are very old, they have deep incised designs and old patination. Collected on Kairuru Islands in the early 1980's. 41 cm, 52 cm (2)
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A pair of feather and red wool shoes, Central Australia. 26 x 15 cm
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A fine old Wunda shield, West Australia, late 19th/early 20th century. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 66 x 16 cm
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A fine Queensland rainforest shield and sword club, early 20th century. Provenance: Robert White collection. Shield: 87.5 x 19 cm; club: 92 cm (2)
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Three old hunting boomerangs, 19th/early 20th century; with incised designs. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 66 cm, 67 cm, 71 cm (3)
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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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 43 cm, 56 cm (2)
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A fine Lagrange Bay shield, Western Australia, 19th century; with fine deep incised vertical striations on the front, the reverse with fine interlocking abstract designs, traces of red ochre and ancient patina. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see…
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An Aboriginal shield, Western Australia, early 20th century; finely carved with zig zag striations on the front and concentric squares incised on the back of the shield, traces of red ochre. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated…
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A Wunda shield, Ashburton, Western Australia, 19th century; a fine and early Wunda shield with classical deep incised zig zag designs on the front, the back showing the great age of this shield with incised vertical striations bisected with horizontal striations, traces of ochre painting and ancient patina. Written on back 'Ashburton no. 14' 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…
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Three early south East Australian boomerangs, 19th century; finely stone carved and in good condition. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 45 cm, 52 cm, 65 cm
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Two early central Desert hunting boomerangs, both with fine linear striations, traces of ochre, used and old patina. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 67 cm, 74 cm (2)
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Two early central Desert hunting boomerangs, both with fine linear striations, traces of ochre, use and old patina. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of Aboriginal Art and artefacts. 42 cm, 46 cm (2)
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Two old boomerangs, left: an early stone carved hunting boomerang, Western Australia, right : an early highly curved returning boomerang, made from hardwood, Southeast Australia, early 20th century. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the…
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Three old hair pins, Western Australia, early 20th century; finely incised on both sides; two with interlocking diamond designs and the other with incised concentric squares. 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 collector in many fields including Aboriginal Art. He was an early collector of the American painter mark Rothko and could easily see the sophisticated aesthetics of…
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A large old Australian Aboriginal Coolamon bowl, Central Australia; finely incised on both sides with linear striations, the outside painted with traditional central Desert clan designs. 69 x 26 cm
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A finely carved and painted shield, Central Australia, the front with fine Central Australian designs in white ochre. 68 x 22.5 cm
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A old hardwood club, Central Australia, of elongated tapering form, heavily incised with designs on most of the surface and old use patina. 81 cm
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A bean wood shield, Central Australia, together with a finely carved and ochred coolamon bowl; the shield with faint painted designs (emu and foliage) Provenance: This shield was given as a thank you to Dr Bertram Welton in the 1940s when he worked with Aboriginal people in Central Australia. 59 cm, 57 cm (2)
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A carved and painted crocodile figure, north East Arnhem Land, circa 1970-1980; the crocodile is an important clan totem, and is often depicted in Arnhem Land bark paintings and less often in carvings such as this one. The finely pained ochre raark designs appear on sides and face of this carving. 131 cm
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A shield, Lagrange Bay, Western Australia, both sides are finely carved and ochre painted. 75 x 14.5 cm
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Two Aboriginal bark paintings by Jack Madagarlgari, Oenpelli, Western Arnhem Land, circa 1970's; one depicts a Jabiru, the other of an emu. 52 x 19 cm, 47 x 21 cm
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Two old Aboriginal bark paintings, Arnhem Land, circa 1960s; 'Totemic Creatures' and 'Bird' 41 x 24 cm, 37 x 20.5 cm
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Dick Nguleingulei Murramurra (1920-1988) Kukuken ochres on bark Language group: Gunwinggu Clan: Nabularldja old label affixed verso, Kukuken ; the Fresh water crocodile, which is a totem of the Dhuwa Moiety and is also called 'My mother's dreaming 'By the artist. At the bottom of the Maningrida arts label it says: Certification that this is the work of Dick Nguleingulei & was painted at Gunmarinbang in March 1981. 137 x 48 cm
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Bark painting, unknown Tiwi Artist, Melville or Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, c.1980; 'Pukamani Funeral armbands and Clan designs' 77 x 45 cm
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Yula Biri Rigomongor - the Barramundi feeding on Jati the frog ochres on bark West Arnhem Land Clan: Rembarrnga Location: Bulagadaru c.1985 77 x 35 cm
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George Djahgurrnga c.1918-1980s funerary Ceremonies ochres on bark West Arnhem Land, c.1960s George Merwulunlu Djahgurrnga was born in about 1918. A Kunwinjku speaker, he grew up in the bush and did not move to the Oenpelli mission, established in 1925. Schooled in bark painting by his father, Djahgurrnga painted in a simple style derived from rock Art and ritual body painting. He did not marry and lived and worked on his own at Guborlemguborlem, on a remote outstation isolated from contact with Europeans.…
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Wally Mandarrk 1915 -1987 Kukuken: the Fresh water crocodile ochres on bark Moiety: Dhuwa Central Arnhem Land, circa 1970 old label affixed verso reads: 'Mandarrk 45 years old, Dagbon from upper Liverpool River' 65 x 26 cm
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Daisy Mamybunharrawuy b.1950 - Sacred Hollow log Ceremony ochres on bark Central Arnhem Land, circa 1980 Provenance: Clive Evatt collection; Bonham's, Sydney, November 2013, Lot 247 81 x 41 cm
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A bark painting, Artist Unknown, (fish), West Arnhem Land, circa 1950-1960. 54 x 22 cm
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A bark painting, Artist Unknown, (Catfish), West Arnhem Land, c.1960's. 67 x 25 cm
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Two Arnhem Land bark paintings, c.1960's; 'Fish', north East Arnhem Land, and 'Clan designs', 'Pupajuwa' inscribed verso 49 x 23 cm, 37 x 16 cm (2)
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Jumbo Dawalinjara 1940 - lizard Totems ochres on bark Northeast Arnhem Land, circa 1960's 65 x 22 cm
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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
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Mick Kubarkku c.1924-2008 Catfish ochres on bark Maningrida area, Central Arnhem Land c.1960's Subsection Balang Clan: Kulmarru Moiety: Dhuwa Language: Eastern Kininjku old label Affixed verso Reads' Gubargu Marion Ceremony (secret & Sacred) Catfish Dreaming' 58 x 32 cm
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Gary Djorlam 1950 - male and female Mimi Spirits ochres on bark Kunwinjku artist from Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), Western Arnhem Land, circa 1980's 47 x 15 cm (2)
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Mick Magani 1920-1984 Totemic animals ochres on bark Clan: Mildjingi area: Gatji Creek, Central Arnhem Land artist information affixed verso 64 x 23 cm
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Yuwurnyuwurn Marruwarr 1928-1978 Mimi spirit and kangaroo ochres on bark Western Arnhem Land. Yuwurnyuwurn Marruwarr was born in about 1928 at a remote camp near the Liverpool River. A Kunwinjku speaker, he belonged to the Marrirn clan and Kamarrang subsection, after the death of his mother in the late 1950s, Yuwurnyuwurn went to live at Oenpelli where he worked on the cattle station and painted in his spare time. When the outstation movement gained momentum in the early 1970s the artist settled for a time…
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A bark painting, Artist Unknown, (two kangaroos), Western Arnhem Land, circa 1960s. 67 x 35 cm
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Andrew Munakali 1940-1988 Nagloyd the rainbow serpent ochres on bark Oenpelli, Western Arnhem Land label affixed verso 90 x 33 cm
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A rare double sided painting on wood by Sambo Ashley Mindiliwoi, Western Arnhem Land, c.1970's; depicting two Mimi spirits on one side and one Mimi spirit on the other side with fine cross hatch Rarrk designs. 44 x 27 cm
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Bilinyarra Nabegeyo (c.1920-early 1990s) Mimi spirit ochres on bark Western Arnhem Land, circa 1960s. Bilinyarra (Biliyeyhkga) Nabegeyo was born in about 1920. He was a Kunwinjku speaker, belonging to the Djalama clan and the Yirritja moiety whose country was Mandilbareng. Renowned as a bark painter, Nabegeyo remembered the 1948 expedition on which Mountford collected numerous paintings at Oenpelli. He belonged to a family of painters, having taught his Sons Bruce and Mukguddu to paint. He died in the…
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Wally Mandarrk 1915 -1987 fish and Frogs ochres on bark Central Arnhem Land, c.1970's Moiety: Dhuwa 96 x 38 cm
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A bark painting, Artist Unknown, (Bandicoot), Western Arnhem Land, c.1950s-60s. Provenance: Palm Springs Museum collection, California. 52 x 31 cm
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David Milaybuma (1938-1983) Noworan: rock python ochres on bark Language: Eastern Kun Winijku dated certificate verso Maningrada arts, March 1982 painted: Maningrada Region, Central Arnhem Land in near perfect condition Provenance: Collected by Dr George Voricek in 1982 while working at Maningrada. This artist is in most of the Public Art gallery and Museum Collections in Australia. 81 x 35 cm
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Ray Munyal (1935 - 1995) hunting story ochres on bark dated certificate Maningrada Arts & Crafts verso,1982 Language group: Djinang Clan: Ngrasaning painted Maningrada Region, Central Arnhem Land in near perfect condition original label Reads: ' the man & the woman at the right of the painting are hunting for goanna and gathering yams. At the bottom centre is a fire where men are seen singing and dancing, the aftermath of a successful hunt. Portions of kangaroo having been cut & ready for cooking. The…
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Brenda brown 1970 - Untitled synthetic polymer on linen Warlayirta Artist, Western Australia, 1988 Provenance: Sotheby's Australia 1990s. Private Collection Sydney Brenda brown in an artist of artistic precision and flare, painting primarily artworks that reference local mungari or bush foods 100 x 76 cm
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A bark painting, Artist Unknown, (fish), Western Arnhem Land, circa 1960's. 78 x 30 cm
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A pair of ceremonial spears, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, collected 1960's; finely carved and ochre painted designs. 128 cm each
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Three Australian Aboriginal woven baskets, including: a Queensland bicornuate basket and two Central Arnhem Land woven baskets. 43 cm, 24 cm, 33 cm (3)
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An old war shield, Eastern Highlands,Papua New Guinea, this shield has soft ochre painted designs over a pecked designs. Provenance: Collected by Jack Hibbert who was a Missionary living and working in New Guinea in the 1960's. 156 x 60 cm
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An old war shield, Simbai, Bismarck Schrader Ranges, Madang Province; finely carved from hardwood with upraised designs and ochre painted. Provenance: Collected by Jack Hibbert who was a Missionary living and working in New Guinea in the 1960's. 108 x 54 cm
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An old war shield, Simbai, Bismarck Schrader Ranges, Madang Province; finely carved from hardwood with upraised designs and ochre painted. Provenance: Collected by Jack Hibbert who was a Missionary living and working in New Guinea in the 1960's. 96 x 52 cm
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An old war shield, Simbai, Bismarck Schrader Ranges, Madang Province; finely carved from hardwood with upraised cross hatched designs. Provenance: Collected by Jack Hibbert who was a Missionary living and working in New Guinea in the 1960's. 107 x 56 cm
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An old war shield, Simbai. Provenance: Allan D Christensen collection no CC60612 Collected by Philip Goldman, Allen D. And Carmen M. Christensen founded the Christensen Fund as a private foundation in California in 1957. Allen, who was a civil and mining engineer, served as president of the Utah Mining and construction Company for many years. He was an enthusiastic and eclectic traveller and Art collector with wide intellectual interests. Beginning in the early 1970s, the Christensen Fund added to its…
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A war shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, an old and used shield carved from hardwood with incised and painted designs. 137 x 39 cm
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An Archers shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, this shield with the design of an abstract human figure in red and white ochres. 70 x 29 cm
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A war shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, mid-20th century; hardwood with carved and ochre painted decorations. Exhibited: Oceanic Art Pacifica 2014 at Casula Power House Gallery. 126 x 40 cm
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A war shield, Mount Hagen area, Highlands Province, this is an old and well used shield with pecked and painted designs, the back with original wood cross handle grip. Provenance: Collected by Ian Downs (1915-2004); Downs was an Australian colonial patrol officer, that first went on patrol in the mount Hagen area in 1938, he later became deputy administrator in the 1950's. 139 x 62 cm
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A war shield, Merawaka area, Eastern Highlands Province, with incised and painted designs the central motif is a lizard. 136 x 51 cm
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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 superb stone carved Telefomin shield that is now in the John Friede collection 176 x 35 cm
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A shield, Iwam people, May River, East Sepik Province, a finely carved and painted shield comprised of four panels of abstract designs with infill ochre in red, yellow, white and black. Provenance: Collected by John Simpson; Simpson was a geologist working in New Guinea in the 1950's/1960's period, most of his collection is now in the Museum of Western Australia in Perth. 242 x 46 cm
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A shield, WHP, an old and well used war shield, with original Cassowary feather plume ornaments at top and original handle with braided rope, boldly pecked and painted designs and traces of Rickets blue soap powder. Old label Reads: Wisimei village, Kerawagi District, Chimbu Owner: Kosmas Maynei, made by his father Aiyre, circa 1950. 160 x 63 cm
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An Archers shield, Wanamu area, Madang Province, this small shield is convex on the front decorated with ochre painted zig zag designs. Provenance: Purchased at the Madang Cultural centre in 1986, they often sold pieces that village people brought in but they didn't need for their collections. 69 x 27 cm
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A war shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, an old and used shield carved from hardwood with incised and painted designs. Provenance: Collected by Warwick Irvine in 1968; Irvine was set to Mendi to build the first government school there and start teaching. 131 x 41 cm
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A shield Asmat, Causerinen Coast, West Papua, a rare type of shield with figurative motifs on the front, collected by Todd Barlin in Basim village, 1986, 'The local catholic priest had it in his home and said it had been carved by one of the most important master carvers or 'Wow ipitsj' from Pirien village and that he was deceased at that time.' - Todd Barlin 192 x 41 cm
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An early war shield, Asmat, Central Asmat, West Papua. Provenance: Raymond Charles Williams. This very early Asmat shield, was obtained by Raymond Charles Williams who was in the Royal Australian engineers Corp and stationed on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait during World War II. He brought this shield back with him when he returned, how the shield got to the Torres Strait is unknown, but there was regular trade between the mainland of New Guinea and the Torres Strait. During World War II the…
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An old war shield, Lumi area, Torricelli Mountains, West Sepik,Papua New Guinea, 19th century; shield collection no. M-940. Provenance: Stanley Moriarty (1906-1978); Moriarty was an avid collector of New Guinea Art in the 1950'-1960s. He made several field collecting trips to the Highlands of New Guinea and his fine collection was partially gifted, and sold to, the Art Gallery of NSW. Some of these pieces were first displayed in the seminal exhibition 'Melanesian Art', curated by Tony Tuckson in 1966;…
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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
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An old war shield, Ialibu area, Southern Highlands,Papua New Guinea; old and well used shield with a fine ochre painted designs in the form of a face. 149 x 52 cm
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A rare and old bark shield, Enga Province,Papua New Guinea; called 'Yenda konabi' Provenance: Collected by Warwick Irvine, 1968; Irvine was a teacher who built the first government school in Mendi in the late 1960's. Reference: a similar shield is in 'The Shields of Oceania' Crawford house Publishing, 2005, page 127. 116 x 42 cm
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A wicker shield, Solomon Islands, 19th century; finely woven with intricate clan designs. Provenance: Tost & Rohu collection: ( attached original tag ) from 1872 to the 1930's, Jane Tost and her daughter Ada, who was married to Naturalist and artefact collector Henry Rohu, founded Tost & Rohu, a fancy work depot and taxidermy Studio. It was during the late nineteenth century that the Company focused on selling furs and ethnographic material. From the 1890's the Company claimed to stock the largest…
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A fine old Papuan Gulf drum, finely carved with two large ancestor faces on the fishtail part of the drum, and deeply incised designs on the bands near the handle, dark patina overall. 86.5 cm
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An ancient Papuan Gulf drum, finely carved in two large ancestor faces on the fishtail part of the drum, dark patina overall. 75 cm
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An ancient Papuan Gulf drum, finely carved with four ancestor faces, two on the fishtail part of the drum and two smaller faces on the sides, dark patina overall, one end has damage as seen in photo. 65 cm
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Two fine old Asmat Drums, one with finely carved human figure to top of handle, collected at Basim village from the Catholic priest; the other with deeply incised designs, collected from Digul River area near Kepi. 104 cm, 110 cm (2)
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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 collections for major museums including a full Dema Ceremony now held at the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris and another at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart' *see attached field Photos. Field Photos Copyright Todd Barlin and the South Australian Museum. 113 cm,…
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A old and well Used Asmat drum, collected at Jow village in 1986 and belonged to an important Asmat carver named Akai. The handle consists of three beautifully carved stylized hornbill birds heads, the body of the drum with incised designs and upraised ghost hands; together with a fine old Mimika drum with abstract designs that represent an ancestor figure (like Yamate boards). 76 cm, 55 cm (2)
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A Chief's drum, Massim Culture, Milne Bay Province, an old and well used drum with intricately carved handle with abstract birds and scroll like designs on the large handle, also the body of the drum has two upraised bird heads connected by a line. 105 cm
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A stone carved drum, Asmat; Collected by Todd Barlin in Pirien village, 1986. 56 cm
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Two old coastal Sepik Drums, the larger drum with masked ancestor faces on handle and the other drum with two stylized birds heads. Both show the real artistic ability of the old time Sepik carvers. 72 cm, 46 cm
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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 in 1968. 57.5 cm, 57 cm (2)
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A large and fine Asmat drum, Ocenep village, circa 1950s-60s. Ex Catholic Mission collection, Basim, coastal Asmat area. 122 cm
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A rare old drum, Boiken area, with deeply incised spirit faces and designs, old patination. 37 cm
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