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Fine Aboriginal & Oceanic Art — Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction House:Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & ValuersNumber of lots recorded:304
Sale Title:Fine Aboriginal & Oceanic ArtLots with images:297
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:243
Date:10-Sep-2017
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A Dyak woven Mat, finely executed with woven and dyed pattern, from Borneo, Indonesia, 83 x 178 cm
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A male ancestral figure, in hardwood with remnant of beard, cowrie shell eyes. Left ear chipped A/F, Sepik river, Papua New Guinea, height 73 cm
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A south American stone mortar, with skulls carved in relief and raised handle ridges, south America, length 32 cm
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A head hunter's arm band 'Tankil', together with a carved wooden buffalo container, comprising of two sets of boar tusks bound with rattan fibre and bone figure with buffalo hair, incised patterns of lizards and their motifs, Bontok people, Philippines, [container] wear commensurate with age as per photo, Ifugao people, Philippines, diameter 13 cm, L 36 cm [container]
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Three south American figures, one from Nayarit, Mexican West Coast height 14 cm; one Chinesco, Mexico height 20 cm; one Chimu figurine, Peru height 16 cm, height 14 - 20 cm
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A Madala figure, of a devotee in Puja, India, label affixed to rear with name of vendor being Aladdin and words '18 C.', in the form of a female with hands clasped as if in prayer, on wooden base, height 33 cm
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A wooden saddle, with zoomorphic pommel, old leather fittings attached, Sulu Archipelago, Southern Philippines, length 53 cm
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A Rajasthani Turban Mannequin, in classic Indian form with bushy moustache, used to model turbans, India, height 61 cm
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A Dyak ancestral figure, of a bow-legged man, dark glossy patina, Kalimantan, Indonesia, height 31 cm
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A Dyak female ancestral figure, hands clasped to torso, dark glossy patina, Kalimantan, Indonesia, height 36 cm
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A pair of Weaving Loom decorations, in the stylised form of horses, dark glossy patina, Sumba Islands, Indonesia, length 33 & 39 cm
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A pair of Javanese Baroug figures, brightly painted and incised figures, with articulated jaws and handles at rear, Java, Indonesia, height 48 & 41 cm
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Three Java Batik Sarongs, Indonesia
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Three Javanese Batik Sarongs, Indonesia
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Two Solo Batik Sarongs, Indonesia
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Two Selaudaug Scarves, Indonesia
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A hand-Dyed Ikat Tube skirt, Indonesia
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A Dayak baby carrier, in classic form with carved ancestral motif to rear, minor chips to base, baby carriers or 'Ba' were used to carry infants, whose souls were believed might wander, and therefore render the baby susceptible to illness or disease, the fierce ancestral face to the front assisting in the warding off of evil spirits, Dayak people, Borneo, Indonesia, 33 x 22 x 31 c, 33 x 22 x 31 cm
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A Dayak sword, with carved bone handle on finely wrought steel blade incorporating intricate barbed protrusions with wooden scabbard. a 'Mandau' is the typical sword used in headhunting. the con caved, con-curved blade is inlaid with brass figures of 'Mata Kalong' (four mirrored large S-shapes near the hilt) and 'Mata Joh' (S-shaped figures), the hilt is bone, carved in a stylised bear form and 'Aso' figures. Rattan bound and bone inlaid scabbard., Dayak people, Borneo, Indonesia, length 69 cm
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Six artefacts, a pre-Columbian Tri leg bowl, an African Mursi woman Lip plate, a stone adze & others, also including a finely metal decorated pig tusk ornament & a clay Buddhist Stupa & a small carved wood dog, Ex Ruth collection Papua New Guinea 1970's, length 8 - 11 cm
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A tribal Bulul figure, Ifugao people, northern Luzon, Philippines, Ex Ruth collection, height 51 cm
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A West Timor ancestral figure, in hard dark wood, Atoni people, West Timor, Indonesia. Provenance: Collect in situ by Louis McWhinnie in the late 1970's, height 53.5 cm
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A framed Artwork Incorporating an Aboriginal woven Fibre Headband, painted with natural ochres and mounted in a wooden frame, 58 x 46 cm
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A framed Artwork Incorporating an Aboriginal woven Armband, painted with natural earth pigments and decorated with feathers and a tassel, mounted in a wooden frame, 58 x 46 cm
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A small bark painting, featuring an echidna, fish and snake design, significant wear to bark, particularly at edges, Hope Vale Mission, Queensland, 21 x 42 cm
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An Aboriginal bark painting, featuring abstract design incorporating human figures and emus, significant wear to bark, particularly at edges, Hope Vale Mission, Queensland, 42 x 92 cm
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An Aboriginal bark painting, featuring fish, turtles and echidnas, significant wear to bark, particularly at edges, Hope Vale Mission, Queensland, 39 x 93 cm
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An Aboriginal bark painting, featuring fish, human figures, crocodile and snakes, significant wear to bark, particularly at edges, Hope Vale Mission, Queensland, 33 x 78 cm
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An Aboriginal bark painting, featuring schematic design of fish and animals, significant wear to bark, particularly at edges, faded throughout, Hope Vale Mission, Queensland, 78 x 34 cm
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The Message stick Vehicle, the Aboriginal Art car is dubbed 'The Message Stick Vehicle' and is a timeless Art piece of Australian Aboriginal cultural history adorned with incredible Aboriginal paintings on this one of a kind Ex-military 1961 Land Rover vehicle., the Message stick Vehicle is a 1961 Land Rover from the Vietnam war era and was an army off road Ambulance driven by film maker Michael Butler for 10-years around Australia while documenting its journey and painted by over 200 Aboriginal artists…
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An old dance mask, used over many years in dance ceremony, coastal Ramu region
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A ceremonial Initiation pot, used to serve yam soup to initiates, traditionally mixed with human flesh/bone gratings, Washkuk Hills, upper Sepik river, height 17 - 20 cm
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A ceremonial Initiation pot, used to serve yam soup to initiates, traditionally mixed with human flesh/bone gratings, Nukuma people, Washkuk Hills, upper Sepik river, 16 x 19 cm
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A ceremonial Initiation pot, used to serve yam soup to initiates, traditionally mixed with human flesh/bone gratings, Nukuma people, Washkuk Hills, upper Sepik river, 17 x 17 cm
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An old figure, used in women's sacred ceremonies of prophecy, Darapap, Murik Lakes, 31 x 8 cm
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A ceremonial woven headdress, Southern Abelam, Wosera, Papua New Guinea
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An old Yina head, Kwoma people, upper Sepik river, Papua New Guinea, 48 x 20 cm
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A yam mask, very finely woven, well-painted, 'Babamini', Southern Abelam, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, 30 x 26 cm
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Two eye masks, woven cane surrounded by cassowary feathers, Sassoya, length 19 - 20 cm
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A ritual Smoke pipe & ceremonial dance rattle, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, length 42 - 49 cm
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Two ritual Smoke pipes, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, length 35 -40 cm
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An old drum, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, height 64 cm
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Three betel Mortars, used to smash betel nuts for chewing, coastal Sepik / Ramu river, height 12 - 16 cm
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Five betel Mortars & two Spatulas, Trobriand Islands, East Papua, length 17 - 34 cm
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Two bone Daggers, Abelam [with cockatoo heads] and Kaup village, lower Sepik [with ridging and bird head], length 20 - 35 cm
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Three bone Daggers, Huli, Abelam and Kaup village, length 23 - 33 cm
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Three bone Daggers, Huli, Abelam and Kaup village, length 23 - 33 cm
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A ritual Bride Price, woven face on green turbo shell, Talipoon, Arapesh, Prince Alexander mountains, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, height 41 cm
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A ritual Bride Price, woven face on green turbo shell, Talipoon, Arapesh, Prince Alexander mountains, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, height 42 cm
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A man's pectoral, Karawut, worn by warriors, also in ceremonial ritual, Abelam people, Papua New Guinea, 41 x 15 cm
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A man's pectoral, Karawut, worn by warriors, also in ceremonial ritual, Abelam people, Papua New Guinea, 29 x 12 cm
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A yam mask, very finely woven, well-painted, 'Babamini', Southern Abelam, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, 46 x 29 cm
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A giant Clamshell ring, thick 'Yua', used in important currency transactions, but primarily for Bride Price, Abelam people, Prince Alexander Mountains, Papua New Guinea, diameter 21 cm
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A very large ceremonial lime gourd, used by initiates during scarification ceremony, Yamok, Sawos village, middle Sepik river, Papua New Guinea
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Three green scarab beetle Headbands, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea Highlands
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A female ancestral figure, traditionally used in women's sacred ceremonies of prophecy, Karau village, Murik Lakes
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An Overmodelled pig's skull, shell encrusted, pig tusks retained, middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea, 36 x 18 x 22 cm
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A Moka Kina Pearlshell set in resin, valuable trade and wealth item, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea Highlands, 66 x 40 cm
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A fighting shield, abstract triangular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Nipa Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 114 x 34 cm
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A fighting shield, red circular and semi-circular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 112 x 33 cm
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A fighting shield, yellow and white circular and semi-circular motifs, 'Worrumbi', Lai Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 139 x 38 cm
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A fighting shield, yellow and white abstract motifs, 'Worrumbi', Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 129 x 36 cm
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A Wahgi Valley shield, remnants of orange and blue paint, old, weathered surface, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 150 x 41 cm
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A Wahgi Valley shield, remnants of original paint, with bold abstract designs, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 162 x 61 cm
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A woven ritual figure, 'Timbuwarra', painted and decorated with shell, as for ceremony, Pangia area, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 150 x 55 cm
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A replica 'Tahnoo' pole, traditionally hand carved Argillite totem pole, black slate skillfully crafted by the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, height 20 cm
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A contemporary Maori figure, with incised design and shell eyes, height 36 cm
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A contemporary Maori patu club, with curvilinear incised design and string loop through hole in handle, New Zealand, length 42 cm
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Four tabua, one with incised figure, another with woven fibre binding, Fiji, length 10 - 15 cm
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A Vanuatu pig killing club, with deep lustrous patina and multiple faces, on custom metal stand, Vanuatu, length 46 - 71 cm
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A Vanuatu pig Killing club, with dark patina, stylised face to killing point, Vanuatu, length 49 cm
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A Fiji war club, polished patina, finely incised pattern and woven fibre handle, Fiji, length 100 cm
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A Fijian kava bowl, on four tapered feet, with lug for storage. Provenance: Hans Allies, diameter 56 cm
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A breast piece pendant with ground shell disc necklace together with a Bavara, on natural fibre, stylised frigate bird disc, Solomon Islands, length 21 cm [Bavara]
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A Cook Islands carved sculpture of a fisherman God, in heavy dark wood, height 51 cm
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A food bowl, Santa Cruz Island, inscribed in Roman numerals IV-XII [April 1912]. Provenance: bill Evans, length 51.5 cm
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A large Tema breast ornament, 20th century, featuring stylised Frigate bird motif on large clam shell disc, including custom made display stand, Santa Cruz Islands. Provenance: Kevin Conru (Europe), Private Collection Melbourne, diameter 18.5 cm
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A Maori club, 19th century, New Zealand, tewhatewha / tewatewa. Provenance: Private Collection Melbourne, length 149 cm
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A Maori club, 20th century, New Zealand, taiaha. Provenance: Private Collection Melbourne, length 157 cm
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A Gope board, with incised design decorated with natural ochres, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 103 c, length 103 cm
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A Gope board, decorated with traditional ancestral figure, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 65 cm
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A Gope board, with ancestral design in natural earth pigments, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 64 cm
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A Gope board, decorated with incised and painted image of an ancestral figure, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 66 cm
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A Gope board, in unusual diamond form with incised design decorated with natural earth pigments, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 69 cm
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A Gope board with protruding Nose, with protruding nose and incised design decorated with natural earth pigments, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 92 cm
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A Gope board, with striking red, black and white ancestral design, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, length 70 cm
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A Tiwi bird sculpture, painted with cross hatch design, damage and repair to legs and feet, A/F, Bathurst Island, Northern Australia, height 35 cm
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An Aboriginal Message stick, with painted design, Northern Australia, length 69 cm
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An early boomerang, New South Wales. Provenance: Professor 'Ken' Cavill
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An fine Aboriginal boomerang, Central Australia. Provenance: south American Private Collector, length 59 cm
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Three Manus Island Obsidian Daggers, with light wood handles, incised and painted design, Admiralty Islands (Manis), length 22 - 24 cm
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A set of Aboriginal stone implements, being a grinding stone, three crafted stone tools and 6 small stone cutting implements, Mudgee area, length 3 - 10 cm
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An early Aboriginal woomera, with original peg secured with kangaroo gut binding, one side profusely carved with incised design, inscribed verso: 'A King 2/3 Field Regiment', with original spinifex resin terminus to handle, Western New South Wales, length 79 cm
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An Aboriginal woomera, in leaf form with notch intact, Central Australia, 87 cm
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An Aboriginal hook boomerang, in the number seven style with yellow and white ochre decoration, some damage repaired with glue a/f, Northern Territory, Australia, length 78 cm
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An Aboriginal woomera together with a fighting stick, the woomera in leaf form with notch peg intact and spinifex resin base to handle, with a poker work design fighting implement, Central Australia, length 76 cm [woomera]
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An Aboriginal hardwood shield, in mulga wood with incised design to face and verso, Central Australia, length 46 cm
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A Softwood Aboriginal shield, in oval form made from bean wood with fluted incisions decorated with red ochre, counter sunk hand, with note 'Walbiri', Central Australia, length 64 cm
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An Aboriginal Coolomon, with abstract incised design to base and interior, Central Australia, length 67 cm
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An Aboriginal Message stick, with incised design and traces of remnant ochre, Central Australia, length 45 cm
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