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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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Three yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, all well painted; used to decorate the freshly harvested yams at fertility ceremonies, to make sure abundant crops for the following year, height 24 cm to 28 cm, width 15 cm to 20 cm
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Three pigment dishes, Iatmul people, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, all take the form of the crocodile (the most common animal depicted in pigment dishes). Used to mix paint and magic substances, length 23 cm to 27 cm
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An old bowl, Kamano people, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, described as a 'Mushroom bowl' because of shape. Pre-contact. Bowls here always simple and abstract. Diameter 35 cm, height 13 cm, length 48 cm
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Two Headrests, fore tribe, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, zoomorphic figure on four legs, with minimal carving. Both old, well used and smoky smell from being stored in houses. Used during ceremony, to allow dancers to rest or sleep & protect their elaborate coiffures, height 23 cm to 25 cm, length 58 cm to 83 cm
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Three yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, the central yam mask has large three dimensional eyes. All well painted; used to decorate the freshly harvested yams at fertility ceremonies, to make sure abundant crops for the following year, height 24 cm to 40 cm, width 19 cm to 23 cm
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Two dance masks, Rai coast, north coast, Papua New Guinea, both very fine and detailed in their workmanship. Both older masks (circa 1940s-50s) and used together in ceremony. Often such masks represent two Brothers, of myth and creation. Worn by two men, with their bodies covered in sago leaf grass skirts, height 31 cm to 32 cm, width 14 cm to 16 cm
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A Man's ceremonial Girdle, Kamano people, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, a traditional man's loin girdle, made of embossed and painted tapa, fibres; the front tapa strips are short, with a finer black skirt below; the back tapa strips are long; there is a twisted tapa connector that goes through the legs. The main belt is coloured red and generously decorated with nassa shells. . Very rare and important dance clothing, length 85 cm, width 13 cm, diameter 35 cm
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Two Bilums and a woven hat, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea
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Three yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, all well painted; used to decorate the freshly harvested yams at fertility ceremonies, to make sure of abundant crops for the following year, height 14 cm to 28 cm, width 14 cm to 28 cm
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A woven head dress, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, in striking form decorated with natural ochres and feathers. Diameter 35 cm, width 23 cm
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A large old dance mask, Rai coast, Papua New Guinea, the mask is large and dramatic, with shell eyes, a strong nose, knobs around the forehead and surmounted by a crocodile figure on the forehead. This mask probably dates to 1940's or 1950's, height 65 cm, length 27 cm, width 22 cm
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A large shield, Wahgi valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, the shield is tall and narrow, with a bold motif in yellow and white. The central circle is said to be the 'Navel', and the radiating black lines can be interrpted as an abstract figure - probably ancestral, for protection, height 171 cm, width 44 cm
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An oval fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, this shield has minimal carving or design; a strong central ridge, and minimal zig-zag motifs top and bottom. It is painted a strong and vibrant red - the colour of blood and also victory. The wood is a very heavy hardwood, height 136 cm, width 40 cm
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Three painted bark panels, two from the Abelam Region and one from the Washkuk hills, East sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, all spirit paintings on sago bark, 'Pangal', used to adorn the inside of the spirit Houses, height 100 cm, width 30 cm
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Three painted bark panels, Kwoma people, Washkuk hills, upper Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, all spirit paintings on sago bark, 'Pangal', used to adorn the inside of the spirit Houses. One is very large, height 100 cm to 170 cm 30 cm to 44 cm
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A fighting shield, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, oval in shape, with a strong central spine. The triangular motifs around the edges are curved ( unusual) to be like waves in orange and white. The interior is blue (Reckitt's blue?) made from a small block of intensely blue bleach used for laundry during the colonial era, height 122 cm, width 51 cm
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A giant shell ring, 'Yua', Papua New Guinea, beautifully formed with a perfect central circle. The surface is so old it has calcified, also displaying the very strong growth rings of the clam. This ring is ancient. Diameter 26 cm
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A stone chalice, Mendi valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, a rare and beautiful stone bowl of chalice-shape. Inside there is a double level of bowl - very rare. The red oches show it has been used for magic. These bowls were made by a previous highland culture and believed to be thousands of years old. They are found, buried, during garden work, or house construction and used for magic, height 10 cm, diameter 16 cm
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A ceremonial dance apron, Imbongu people, Ialibu, Southern Highlands. Papua New Guinea, sometimes called a 'Pig killing apron', this example is finely woven and painted. Together with fine dance rattle, with candle nuts inside for sound production, height 40 cm, width 33 cm
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Two stone bowls, Mendi valley, Papua New Guinea, classic highland stone bowls: interiors painted red/orange as they are used for magic in male and female cults. Usually kept away from the village in special magic houses where objects of power are stored, height 6 cm to 8 cm, diameter 14 cm to 15 cm
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Three stone bowls, Mendi valley, Papua New Guinea, classic highland stone bowls: interiors painted red/orange as they are used for magic in male and female cults. Usually kept away from the village in special magic houses where objects of power are stored. Condition: one is damaged on edges, but obviously still powerful magically, height 6 cm to 14 cm, diameter 11 cm to 17 cm
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A very large yam mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, yam masks are not usually this big; no doubt made for a very important (large) yam at the yam lining ceremony. Red and white stripes make this exampe very dramatic, height 69 cm, length 50 cm, width 19 cm
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A woven Helmut mask, Baba, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, used in ritual dance, with the mask representing a mythical creature - often a bird. Painted in bold yellow and white. Good condition, height 35 cm, length 23 cm, width 35 cm
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Three yam masks, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, used to adorn large yams at their ceremonial presentation after harvest, height 22 cm to 35 cm, width 14 cm to 20 cm
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Three ceremonial ornaments, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, including a necklace of skulls, a necklace of hornbill beaks and a finely woven man's ceremonial bag. Diameter 25 cm, length 18 cm, height 38 cm, width 22 cm
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A Ceremonai axe and three stone axe blades, Massim Region, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, these large axes were not for work, but used ceremonially by the Massim people to display large fine blades. Three working axe blades, height 100 cm, width 64 cm
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Four engraved coconut objects, Abelam Region and Trobriand Island, Papua New Guinea, including a spinning top, Abelam; a lime pot, Trobriand Islands; a spoon, Abelam and a whistle, Abelam. All finely engraved and dating to the1960s.
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Four traditional fish hooks, north coast, Papua New Guinea, made from clamshell and trochus shell. Typical hooks; one very large and rounded - with exact purpose unknown. Fibre string attached, height 12 cm
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A model canoe with pearl inlay, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, height 31 cm, length 55 cm
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An ancestral mask, Kandingai village, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, exhibited at Christchurch Art gallery, 1983, height 40 cm, width 21 cm
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A war shield, April river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, condition: there is a crack to the top. Provenance: Ex Peter Ryan collection, Melbourne, height 189 cm, width 38 cm
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A roof Final figure, Aibom village, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, condition: there has been a repair to the birds head. These pottery, height 40 cm, diameter 18 cm
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A Waskuk Pottery bust, Kwoma people, upper Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, height 22 cm, width 11.5 cm
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A woven ancestral figure, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, height 107 cm, width 70 cm
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A female ancestral figure, Kwoma people, Waskuk Region, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, height 112 cm, width 15 cm
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