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Aboriginal & Oceanic Art — Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers

Auction House:Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & ValuersNumber of lots recorded:135
Sale Title:Aboriginal & Oceanic ArtLots with images:135
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:101
Date:29-Mar-2021
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A bark painting depicting three ancestral figures, Arnhem land, Northern Territory, image is faded. 38 x 63 cm
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Claude Pannka, (1928-1972), watercolour on paper, 16 x 24.5 cm
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A bark painting, Arnhem land, Northern Territory, portion of old label verso (illegible). 149 x 66 cm
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A coat hanger by Albert Namatjira, Hermannsburg, Central Australia. Besides being a masterful watercolourist Albert Namatjira also produced a variety of wooden artefacts and souvenirs, including coat hangers, which are closely related in shape and form to traditional boomerangs. This example has been decorated with the image of a goanna, the inscription 'Hermannsburg, Central Australia' and has been signed by the artist, length 45.5 cm
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A hardwood shield, Kimberley Region, Northern Australia, with incised design to face and verso featuring a snake, emus and lizards, height 69 cm
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A finely fluted hardwood coolomon, Central Australia, 17 x 70 cm
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A painted bark basket, Burunga people, Beswick station, Northern Territory and a large shell painted with traditional design, length 21 cm and 37 cm
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Two woven fibre baskets and a dilly bag, Northern Territory (3), diameter 28 cm and 31 cm
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A hardwood woomera, Western Australia, with incised pattern to face, wooden notch peg fixed with spinifex resin, length 75 cm
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A rare Barbed Torres Straits arrow with carved shaft in the form of an open Mouthed crocodile, length 147 cm
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A mulga wood Transition boomerang, with incised design and central Protrusion, South Australia, length 60 cm
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A fine cape York painted boomerang, Queensland, length 64 cm
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Two Central Australian hunting boomerangs, both with incised Fluting to one side (2), one has chips to both ends, length 63 cm and 65 cm
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Three assorted Australian Aboriginal boomerangs (3), one from cape York, Queensland; one with pecked design from the Kimberley region, and one from Central Australia, length 62 cm to 76 cm
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A central Queensland boomerang with incised design decorated with pipe clay, both ends sharpened to points typical of the region, length 57 cm
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A cape York boomerang and a painted Arnhem land boomerang (2), paintwork on the Arnhem land boomerang is worn from age and use, length 66 cm and 67 cm
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Two hardwood digging sticks with incised handles, Central Australia (2), 103 and 120 cm
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A cape York hardwood woomera with bailer shell disk terminus, notch peg extant, rubber compound has been inserted between the shell discs, length 91 cm
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A Central Australian woomera in leaf form painted by Enos Namatjira, woomera has been varnished and has chip to one side, wood notch peg attached with kangaroo gut binding. Painting of gum trees and Central Australian landscape, length 67 cm
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A carved wood cassowary, north Queensland, portion of feet and tail missing, height 37 cm
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A nineteenth century boomerang painted with natural ochres, Kimberley Region, North-West Western Australia. Provenance: Ex-Fred north collection, England, length 58 cm
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A hunting boomerang with incised Fluting to one side, Central Australia, length 66 cm
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An early woomera, Western Australia, with spinifex resin terminus and spinifex resin mounted wooden notch peg. Dark colour overall indicate that the piece has been oiled at some stage. Long vertical striations suggest stone carving. Provanance: Purchased by the vendor at an Estate sale in England, UK, length 62 cm
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A rare and early Australian spear Thrower/Woomera, South-Eastern Australia, faint incised marks on face of central section, wooden notch peg attached with binding (probably kangaroo gut) and remnant glittering resin (possibly spinifex). Dark colour overall suggesting that the piece has been oiled at some stage. Provenance: Purchased by the vendor at an Estate sale in England, UK, length 51 cm
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An Aboriginal fighting club, Central Australia, decorated with a snake and a goanna, length 66 cm
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A Dayak wooden mask, Borneo, Indonesia, on a custom metal stand, height 38 cm, width 33 cm without stand
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A whale bone Maori kotiate, New Zealand, this kotiate has inscribed on it: 'Mere, Maori chief Te Heu Heu of Kaiapoi, N.Z.'. Te Heuheu may refer to several people from the Te Heuheu family which has been the family of chiefs of the Maori ngati Tuwharetoa iwi (tribe) for approximately 200 years. The use of the word 'Mere' is incorrect as this denotes a short, broad bladed weapon in the shape of an enlarged tear drop made from nephrite jade (pounamu or greenstone), height 33 cm, width 14 cm
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A green stone Maori patu, New Zealand, height 30 cm, width 10 cm
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A Hawaiian Bowl/Calabash, signed 'Pollock' to base, height 12.5 cm, diameter 24.5 cm
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Six mouth Harps in decorated containers, Tibet, Ex Peter Elliot collection, height 9.5 cm to 13 cm, diameter 2.5 cm to 4 cm
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Six greenstone, Maori Scrapping, Neolithic tools, height 5 cm to 6.5 cm
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Pair of male and female figures, possible Timor, height 43 cm, width 10 cm
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An Ikat Weaving,Toraja people, Sulawesi, Indonesia, length 400 cm, width 49 cm
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A wooden 'Mystery' shield, origin unknown, with incised design verso and inset lug handle. Pecked design to face at top and bottom. Stand not included. 26 x 72 cm
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A wooden shield, Philipinnes, with counter sunk lug handle and incised design to face, height 63 cm
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A pair of hardwood Dyak Paddles, Borneo, Indonesia (2), with incised design to paddle blades, length 134 cm and 153 cm
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An unusual tribal implement with incised design to shaft and a fitted metal cover over point, origin unknown, length 49 cm
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A rare and beautiful Guyana hand club, South America. Provenance: Purchased by the vendor at an Estate sale in England, UK, length 73 cm
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A Melanesian ceremonial mask, possibly Malekula Island, Vanuatu, made from fibre, natural earth pigments, clay & boar tusks. Condition: two boar tusks missing, a fibre prong has become detached. A/F. Provenance: The Estate of ray Hughes, height 39 cm, width 25 cm
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Portion of a canoe prow, Sissano Lagoon, north coast, Papua New Guinea, one side of a canoe prow with a profusely incised pattern decorated with store paints, length 177 cm, height 29 cm
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A model canoe with bird atop a lone Sailor, Sentani lakes, West Papua, incised design decorated with natural earth pigments, one wing of bird missing, length 73 cm
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A profusely incised polychrome paddle, Sissano Lagoon, north coast Papua New Guinea, handle has been cut down for transport, length 74 cm
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A Boiken food platter with incised design to base, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, diameter 48 cm
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An old Boiken food platter, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, some chips to rim and base., diameter 31 cm
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A Diminutive Massim stool comprising of two figures, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 32 cm
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A Yangaru bride price, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, woven cane top bound to a turbo shell base on wooden mount, height 28 cm, width 22 cm
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A Malakula ancestral figure with Outstretched arms and splayed feet, Vanuatu, fibre, ochre, pigs tusks and shells, mounted on steel stande. Some damage to one hand, height 78 cm
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A fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, painted with traditional ochres with abstract motifs. Width 55 cm, height 158 cm
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A large fighting shield, Wahgi valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, the design is formed by fine punctated holes and the motif is of a dazzling sun in yellow and white. Width 61 cm, height 167 cm
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An Asmat drum, West Papua, condition: there is a crack and the skin is missing, height 66 cm, diameter 21 cm
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A wooden food platter, Sentani lakes, West Papua, with incised traditional design to base, height 5.5 cm, length 57 cm, width 23.5 cm
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Two wooden platters, Massim people, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 5 cm to 6 cm, diameter 39 cm to 43 cm
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An adze handle, Massim Region, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 48 cm, width 19 cm
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Two coconut bowls, one in the form of a scoop with shell inlay, height 11 cm to 13 cm, diameter 13.5 cm to 15 cm
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Two wooden bowls, one from the Huon Gulf and one from the Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 9.5 cm, length 38 cm to 40 cm
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Two fine wooden bowls, Pacific Islands, height 4 cm to 5 cm, length 25 cm to 38 cm
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A Baba mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 48 cm, diameter 45 cm
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A Baba mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 30 cm, diameter 50 cm
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A hair piece, Iamul people, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, worn as part of the elaborate costume used in the Naven ceremonies, height 44 cm, width 31 cm
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A dance staff in the form of stylised Bonito, Solomon Islands, height 90 cm, width 9.5 cm
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A wall plaque incorporating four hornbill birds, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 40 cm, width 21 cm
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A painted palm plath ceiling panel, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, height 98 cm, width 33 cm
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A painted and carved mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 52 cm, width 16 cm
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A metal 'Phantom' shield, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, on beaten metal made from a flattened 44 gallon petrol drum. Rust holes apparent woven fibre and cane handles to rear. Provenance: Ex hall collection, mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, 86 x 160 cm
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A Swordfish bill tipped ceremonial spear, probably Samoa, with fine fibre binding and old patina, length 196 cm
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A cult hook, Yipwan, Karawari river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, height 95 cm
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A ceremonial puppet head, Vanuatu, constructed with cane, spider web and fibre decorated with natural earth pigments, height 43 cm
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A Iatmul canoe prow shield, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, with two prongs at base to allow mounting into the prow of war canoes. Carved in the form of a Sabi mask, height 79 cm
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An ancestral mask, Iatmul people, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, decorated with cowrie and nassau shells, human hair, boar's tusk and natural ochres, height 34 cm
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An incised and painted black palm fighting club, probably Papua Gulf Region, Papua New Guinea, length 118 cm
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A large and superb traditional wealth belt consisting of ten strands of ground shell discs, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, length 237 cm
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Two bone lime spatulas, Trobriand Islands, a bone dagger, Maprik Region, an unusual bone hair pin and a ground shell nose piece, Papua New Guinea (5), length 13 to 36 cm
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A large and Powerful Keveke Mask/Dance costume, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea, beaten bark fibre decorated with natural earth pigments on cane frame, height 125 cm
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An Iatmul ancestral figure, Timbunke village, middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, made from very heavy hardwood and decorated with natural ochres, length 78 cm
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An Iatmul ancestral mask, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, height 62 cm
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A Tongan Islands ceremonial dance paddle, Kingdom of Tonga, probably from Wallis Island, carved in hour glass form with two incised appatures creating an anthropomorphic effect. Deep glossy patina. Knob at terminus of handle. For a similiar example see lot 2049 Bonhams New York sale 18574 12 May 2011, length 69 cm, width 16 cm
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A carved wooden vessel with Bonito at both ends, with mother-of-pearl shell inlay, Solomon Islands, a few shell inlays are missing as per images, length 92 cm, height 22 cm, width 15 cm
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A Brag mask, Murik lakes, lower Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, signs of wear and use, height 64 cm
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Three small cassowary bone daggers and a bone hair pin, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea (4), length 14 to 20 cm
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Three highland stone Axes, one with old fibre binding showing age and Use, mount Hagen area, Papua New Guinea (3), height 66 to 72 cm
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Three Mortlock Island turtle bone Breadfruit Cutters with Sennit binding, Papua New Guinea, height 45 to 50 cm
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Three incised stone objects, one decorated with shell eyes and human hair, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, length 12 to 19 cm
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A hardwood ancestral figure in the form of a basket hook, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, 111 cm
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Two betel nut mortars, one from the Murik lakes and one from the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea (2), height 16 cm and 18 cm
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A wooden mock skull, Blackwater river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, length 23 cm
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Three greenstone adze heads, Baliem valley, West Papua (3), length 15 to 23 cm
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A set of 19 arrows, one spear and one bow, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, collected by Dr John Clatworthy who worked for several years in the New Guinea highlands as a medical doctor prior to 1953. Thence by descent, length 125 cm to 198 cm
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A large polychrome ancestral mask, Malekula Island, Vanuatu, height 42 cm, width 26 cm
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A polychrome ancestral mask, north coast (Aitape?), Papua New Guinea, wood with natural earth pigments on a custom steel stand. Provenance: Purchased by the vendor from a French collection, height 34 cm
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A hardwood female ancestral figure, probably Yuat river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, given the style of carving and very heavy hardwood employed we believe that this figure is from the first half of the twentieth century. Provenance: Purchased by the vendor from an estate sale in the USA, height 106 cm
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An early Massim headrest in the form of an ancestral animal, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, from the style and patination we believe this piece to be from the early part of the twentieth century or possibly nineteenth century. For a similiar example see plate 42, page 84, Oceania Nera, Arte, Cultura e Popoli della Melanesia, Cantini, Italy, collected in 1898. Provenance: Ex-Private collection, Sydney, length 63 cm
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A Massim headrest in the form of an ancestral animal and a Massim figurative carving, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea (2), from the style and patination we believe these pieces to be from the early part of the twentieth century or possibly nineteenth century. For a similiar example see plate 42, page 84, 'Oceania Nera, Arte, Cultura e Popoli della Melanesia', Cantini, Italy, collected in 1898. Provenance: Ex-Private collection, Sydney, length 57 cm, height 23 cm
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A collection of six Massim ancestral carvings, including one headrest, in the form of various animals, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea (6), from the style and patination we believe these pieces to be from the early part of the twentieth century or possibly nineteenth century. For a similiar example see plate 42, page 84, 'Oceania Nera, Arte, Cultura e Popoli della Melanesia', Cantini, Italy, collected in 1898. Provenance: Ex-Private collection, Sydney, length 19 to 50 cm
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Fighting shield, Wahgi valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, Wahgi shields are believed to be the largest in the world. This is a superb example, early post contact, painted in traditional yellow and white. The main motif is a bold 'Sun' design; also with fine weaving on top edge, height 156 cm, width 68 cm
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Old bow of black palm and twelve fighting arrows, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, the bow is re-inforced with numerous tight cane bindings, with attached bow string of cane. 12 old arrows for fighting, some with bone tips, height 170 cm
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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
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An old bow of black palm and twelve fighting arrows, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, the bow is re-inforced with numerous tight cane bindings, with attached bow string of cane. 12 old arrows for fighting, some with bone tips, height 160 cm
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A woven Helmut mask, Baba, Abelam people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, painted in strong red and white colours, with red stripes. Used during the yam fertility ceremonies and other rituals. It represents spirits, often birds. Cassowary spike headdress, height 91 cm, length 22 cm, width 36 cm
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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. Nassa shell binding. Diameter 25 cm
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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
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