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Aboriginal | Oceanic Art — Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction House:Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & ValuersNumber of lots recorded:272
Sale Title:Aboriginal | Oceanic ArtLots with images:264
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:205
Date:24-Nov-2019
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A Neckrest with pig head decoration, coastal Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, 36 x 10 cm
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A ceremonial drum, Kundu, Gogodala people, Balimo, Papua New Guinea, height 61 cm, diameter 14 cm
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A ceremonial Hornbill figure, used on the Facade of a spirit house, Abelam people, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea, 72 x 45 cm
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A 'Talipun' bride price, Prince Alexander Mts, Papua New Guinea, 36 x 21 cm
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A woven ritual figure, 'Timbuwarra', Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 109 x 38 cm
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Two bark panels from a spirit house, Pangals, Abelam people, Papua New Guinea (2), 140 x 31 cm, 116 x 33 cm
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A fighting shield, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 137 x 42 cm
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A large woven figure, Timbuwarra, Wiru people, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, 120 x 58 cm
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Three betel mortars, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea (3), height 15 cm, 13 cm, 17 cm
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Three betel mortars, lower Sepik River, Papua New Guinea (3), height 25 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm
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An old food bowl, Wuvulu 'Matty ' Island, north coast, Papua New Guinea, 45 x 25 x 8 cm
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An old shield, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea Highlands, 150 x 39 cm
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A woven yam mask, Abelam people, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, 40 x 32 cm
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Two woven yam masks, old and well painted, Abelam people, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea (2), 32 x 26 cm largest
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A woven yam mask, Abelam people, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, 34 x 31 cm
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An old mask (fragment) Watam Lagoon, lower Sepik, Papua New Guinea, a strong form with damage to top, 45 x 20 cm
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A fighting shield, Nipa Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, 131 x 40 cm
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A ceremonial exchange, 'Moka Kina', Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea Highlands, 66 x 40 cm
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A giant shell ring, Yua, Yangoru, Prince Alexander Mts, Papua New Guinea, the band of nassa shells denotes ownership by a particular person, diameter 21 cm
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A giant shell ring, Yua, Yangoru, Prince Alexander Mts, Papua New Guinea, this is a particularly thick ring which adds value in transactions, diameter 19 cm
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Three fine Pearlshell pectorals, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea (3), Kina shell old and high quality gold-lipped mother of pearl, length 15-17 cm
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A set of five shell wealth rings, Prince Alexander Mts, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, used as wealth objects and also body decoration, diameter 8-12 cm
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A set of four shell wealth rings, Prince Alexander Mts, Papua New Guinea, all are ancient, used as wealth objects and body decoration, diameter 10-14 cm, region. Used as wealth and also body decoration., A-44 set of four (4) shell wealth rings. All are ancient, from 10-14 cm diam 250-350, the Prince Alexander Mountains of the Sepik Rive, region. Used as wealth and also body decoration., D10 cm - D14 cm
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An ancient ebony lime spatula, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. Provenance: Collected by Rev William Fellows, the first missionary on the Trobriand Islands (1885-1890) ex-William Dunmall collection. Aquired from the grandson of Rev Fellows in WA in 1954.ex-Urimbirra Museum Harvey bay, Queensland, length 61 cm
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A fighting shield, Nembi Plateau, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, a strong shield, carved with a spine that radiates 'V' forms at top and bottom. The painting is a vibrant orange, with white highlights around the knotted rope appearing like 'Eyes' and the whole shield like an over-sized face. The black spine also becomes figure-like, with arms and legs, 135 x 41 cm
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A headdress, Abelam people, Wosera, Papua New Guinea, a soft balsa-like wood, it is dominated by two hornbills with a central spirit face, two smaller hornbills above, brightly painted in traditional ochres, 61 x 31 cm
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A set of three ancient cowrie shell penis covers, Torocelli Mountains, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea (3), made of egg cowrie shell (Ovula ovum), a loop of bark or fibre through a small hole is used to tie the shell over the head of the penis, used in ceremony, not for modesty, length 10 cm, 8 cm, 6 cm
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A Yipwon, cult hook, mid-Karawari river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, an unusual hook, made from a tree root, the spirit form with two heads emerges magically from the wood, a truly haunting figure, mounted on a custom made metal stand, 112 x 26 cm
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A tapa cloth with geometric pattern, Pacific Islands, 150 x 116 cm
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A fine old Afi Afioliya eight strand shell money necklace, Malaita, the Solomon Islands, fish teeth inset in the centre. Provenance: Ex Judith Wood collection. Judith lived in Vanuatu for more than 25 years and field collected frequently in the Solomon Islands, Reference, Burt, Ben. Body ornaments of Malaita, the Solomon Islands, British Museum press, 2009, length 84 cm ex ties
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A Barafa shell money string and a seed dance rattle, Malaita, Solomon Islands, a length of coiled vine with small white shellrings bound along its length. Barafa is said to be stipulated for the final payment which pays off debt, this form of shell currency is extremely labour intensive as the hand ground rings are so tiny, Barafa is usually coiled and tied, to be worn around the neck, 8 shells per cm approx 2000 shell rings. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, length 360 cm approx
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A figural betel mortar, with shell inlay, Malaita, Solomon Islands. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, height 30 cm
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A figural bowl, with shell inlay snake design, Santa Ana, Mpria Ni Mwane, the Solomon Islands. Provenance: Ex Judith wood Collection, 45 x 14 x 9.5 cm
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An Afi i Oiya eight strand shell necklace, the Solomon Islands, with old white bone or shell spacers. Provenance: Ex Judith wood Collection, 110 cm
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A dance stick with a small spirithead featuring boar tusks, Tomal Island, Malekula, Vanuatu, Toman Island is just of the coast of Malekula, visible from the airport, with a culture of its own. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, height 58.5 cm
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A large clam shell pectoral Tema or Kap Kap, Santa Cruz, the Solomon Islands. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, diameter 17 cm
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A ten strand shell money necklace, Afi I Oiya, with black spacers, the Solomon Islands. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, length 92 cm
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Two old and rebored polished bailer shell segment pectoral or genital covers. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, length 14-16 cm
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A Kwoma neck band set with approx. eighty dog teeth and a Kwoma pectoral panels set with approx 70 dog teeth, Papua New Guinea (2). Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, length 42-12 cm
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An ornate headband, with three dog teeth and a cassowary feather Tuft, Abelam, a Kwoma hair decoration with six shell rings and 16 dog teeth and a large Karawut (3). Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, length 50-10 cm
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Two chief status pectoral Insignias, clamshell on a turtle shell base, Bokolo, the Solomon Islands (2). Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, diameter 14-15 cm
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An old Temes pale Nambugi head on its stick, Novembur Society, Malekula, Vanuatu, commonly called Temes puppets, made for the funerary ceremonies of the Novembur Society. Provenance: Ex Judith wood Collection, 86 x 26 cm
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An old Temes black Nambugi head only, Novembur Society, Malekula, Vanuatu, commonly called Temes puppets, made for the funerary ceremonies of the Novembur Society. Provenance: Ex Judith wood collection, height 54 cm
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A Kini Kini war club, with finely incised design, Fiji, length 98 cm
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A Kanak Bird's head club, New Caledonia, light honey coloured patina, length 69 cm
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A carved fertility figure, Nigeria, hardwood with nails, black pigment, height 34 cm
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A ceremonial staff, Tanzania, Africa, on custom stand, height 81 cm
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A Baule mask, ivory coast, Africa, on custom stand, height 32 cm
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A Ponque mask, Gabon, Africa, on custom stand, height 25 cm
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A Mimbeiza, Africa. Provenance: Ex John Yu collection, length 18 cm
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A pre-1970's vintage mask, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, height 81 cm
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A pre-1970 vintage mask with beard, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, 72 x 37 x 36 cm H with beard 133 cm
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A pre-1970 vintage wooden mask with beard, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, 60 x 24 x 19 cm H 105 cm including beard
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A pre-1970 vintage wooden face mask, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, 50 x 31 x 26 cm
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A pre-1970 vintage Helmut mask, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, 47 x 25 x 29 cm
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A pre-1970 vintage wooden face mask, Sierra Leone, Africa. Provenance: acquired in the 1970's whilst the collector was in residence as a Doctor in Sierra Leone, height 53 cm
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An antique pair of Dugong tusks, Northern Australia, length 16 cm
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An antique sperm whale tooth, length 11 cm
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Six strands of assorted African Beads, Approximately 70 cm
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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Six strands of assorted African beads, length 70 cm approx.
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A Papua New Guinea Unfired ceramic breast plate, Burnished black incised geometric pattern, diameter 15 cm
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An African hair comb and letter opener, length 20-28 cm
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An old African wooden axe handle, length 57 cm
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A carved timber bowl and three dilly Bags, 15 x 30 x 53 cm
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