Art For Sale Archive - Page 12 of 48 - Oceanic Arts Australia

A Superb Old New Guinea Abelam Wood Head Prince Alexander Mountains East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Abelam Wood Head from the Prince Alexander Mountains Area in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea

Provenance: The Stan Gordon Moriarty Collection Sydney (1906 -1978) as seen in the old photo in his house above

This finely carved and painted wood head called Idap was used in Yam Harvest ceremonies that are at the heart of the Abelam Culture.

The Abelam are well known for their large and beautiful Ceremonial Houses where sacred artworks are kept & the initiation of young men takes place.

For the Abelam the importance lies in the bright polychrome paints applied to their surfaces, the paint is a magical substance that endows the figures with supernatural power and beauty.

One of the major focuses of ceremonial life among the Abelam people of northeast New Guinea is the competitive growth and exchange of long yams. The Abelam cultivate two distinct categories of yams—a small variety used as ordinary food and long yams, massive tubers that can be as much as twelve feet long. A man’s social status is determined largely by his success in growing long yams. Each man has a permanent exchange partner to whom he ceremonially presents his largest yams following the annual harvest, later receiving those of his rival in return.

Men who are consistently able to give their partners longer yams than they receive gain great prestige. Lavishly adorned for the presentation ceremony, the finest long yams are essentially transformed into human images, decorated in the manner of men in full ceremonial regalia. The “heads” of the enormous tubers are adorned with specially made yam masks such as this one, which is made exclusively for yams and is never worn by humans.

Provenance: The Stan Gordon Moriarty Collection Sydney (1906 -1978) Photo above of in his house 1960s just below the Yuat River Mundugamor Mask (now in the collection of The Musee du Quai Branly Paris France)

The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Papua New Guinea Art

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art. Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us

A Superb Maori Ceremonial Adze by the Maori Master Carver John Collins New Zealand

A Superb Maori Ceremonial Adze attributed to the Maori Master carver John Collins Circa 1990 New Zealand

A toki poutangata is a Ceremonial Adze worked from pounamu or greenstone that is usually lashed to a finely carved handle. Almost invariably carried by a person of mana, someone of high rank and with great leadership qualities, they were often adorned with the feathers of significant birds. Such birds included the kaka, kahu, and the kererū. Strips of dog hair were also added. Perhaps the nearest equivalent in European culture is the sceptre, used by kings as a symbol of rank and power and bearing the spiritual symbolism of the Christian cross.

Toki poutangata were used on ceremonial occasions, such as the felling of a great tree for a significant waka (canoe) or for the ridgepole of a whare nui or meeting house. The first chips cut from the tree were taken by the tohunga to a special place where karakia of thanksgiving were recited to the god of the forest, Tanemahuta in acknowledgement of the sacrifice of his offspring. The chips might also be returned ceremonially to the forest to nurture new growth.

It is believed that the toki poutangata was originally used for the ceremonial execution of captives. Upon the death of its owner, the special handle was buried with them while the pounamu blade remained with the tribe. Once it had been decided who would succeed the chief, another handle was fashioned and lashed to the adze.

H D Skinner recorded the work of Māori ethnologist Te Rangi Hiroa on the function of the toki poutangata. Te Rangi Hiroa maintained that this implement was never intended for the adzing of wood by craftsmen. “It formed an exclusive article in the property of a chiefly family, to be borne on ceremonial occasions, to accompany the gestures of the family orator, and to lie in state on the breast of the chiefly dead.” Buck told me that he knew of only one occasion on which a toki poutangata had been used actively, namely by Te Wherowhero when designating Te Atiawa captives to the oven after the fall of Pukerangiora pa. [an attack by Waikato on a Taranaki pa].

‘He suggested that the name of the artefact might be due to this specific function. He later withdrew this and suggested that the term toki poutangata meant “the adze that establishes man in authority”

With this in mind, the symbols of rank between Māori and European culture that held sway at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi – the toki poutangata and the sceptre – are indeed strongly similar. Another mark of authority for the British were the seals of the realm.

References: Skinner, H D. (1974). Comparatively speaking: Studies in Pacific Material Culture

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us

Superb Collection of New Guinea Massim Lime Spatulas Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Collection of Old New Guinea Massim Lime Spatulas from the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Dating from the late 19th Century

These Lime Spatulas show the high quality of aesthetics that Massim Master Carvers could achieve working on this scale. After carving & polishing the artist would put white lime into the incised designs to highlight them.

The utensils made for chewing betel nut are some of the most beautiful smaller-scale carvings made in New Guinea. Lime Spatulas are usually carved from a dark native hardwood with elaborately carved finials depicting stylized human ancestor figures and or animals.

Lime Spatulas were used for chewing betel nuts by dipping the end of the spatula into powdered lime (crushed & burnt sea shells) & licking it off as you put a Betel Nut from the Acacia Palm to chew together, the lime diffuses the alkaloids in the Betel Nuts.

In the Massim Culture chewing Betel Nuts is an important daily ritual. Betel Chewers would have a lime gourd & spatula for dipping into the lime, and older men with poor teeth would also have a small mortar and pestle for crushing the nuts into a mush that was easier to eat.

Many of the most beautiful Massim Lime Spatulas were made by Master Carvers for use only by important Chiefly Persons. The motifs are part of the Massim belief system & spirituality.

Provenance: These Lime Spatulas were collected over 40 years and are from several important historical collections from the late 19th Century.

The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Superb Old New Guinea Asmat Canoe Prow Ornament West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

A Superb Old New Guinea Asmat Canoe Prow Ornament from the South Coast of West Papua (Irian Jaya) Indonesia

This very fine Asmat Sculpture was once on the front of a large war canoe that held about 20 to 25 warriors standing up and paddling. The canoe & canoe prow ornament was carved from a single large tree.

The Asmat relation to trees is part of their creation mythology where the creator Fumeripitsj was lonely so he carved the first Asmat people from a tree & brought them to life by playing his drum.

The main figure is an important Ancestor that has a totemic crocodile on his chest, which is an important Asmat symbol associated with ritual headhunting in their past. The canoe prow can be viewed in either position either as a vertical or horizontal sculpture, I personally like it as shown in the photos.

The Asmat people and their art became well known when Michael Clark Rockefeller who was collecting Asmat Art and was presumed dead there in November 1961. The artworks he collected are still beautifully displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

This beautiful Canoe Ornament I field was collected in Manep Village in the remote central Asmat area in 1985. I was told that it belonged to the grandfather of the owner going back probably to the 1940s, it was kept as a family heirloom.

This Canoe Prow along with other artworks was collected by Todd Barlin over a 2-year period from 1985-1986, most of these artworks are now in major museum collections around the world including The Musee du Quai Branly Museum in Paris. When you walk into the Oceanic Art Pavilion the first thing you see are monumental Ancestor Poles from the Asmat & Mimika along with a Soul Boat, Shields, and Dance Costumes from the Asmat & Mimika, all of those artworks were collected at the same time as this Canoe Prow.

Photos above of the groundbreaking exhibition “The Asmat & Mimika” at The National Museum of African & Oceanic Art in Paris 1996 now part of The Musee du Quai Branly Museum.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection: Collected by Todd Barlin in 1985 with the owner shown in the village

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Superb Old New Guinea Drum Asmat People West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

A Superb Old New Guinea Asmat Drum from the South Coast of West Papua (Irian Jaya) Indonesia Dating from the early 20th Century

This very fine Asmat Drum was kept by several generations of one family. For the Asmat people, wood and trees and drums are part of their creation mythology where the creator Fumeripitsj carved the first Asmat people from a tree & brought them to life by playing his drum.

This very beautiful old drum has two ancestor heads as part of the handle and was obviously a family heirloom that had been used for a very long time. When I was field collecting in the remote Northwest Asmat area in 1985-1986, the people rarely ever wanted to sell an old drum, they were happy for me to see them but they were generally not for sale which to me shows how important drums were to the families that owned them.

The world became aware of the Asmat people and their art when Michael Clark Rockefeller who was collecting Asmat Art went missing and was presumed dead there in November 1961, the artworks he collected are still beautifully displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

This old drum along with other artworks was collected by Todd Barlin over a 2-year period from 1985-1986, most of these artworks are now in major museum collections around the world including The Musee du Quai Branly Museum in Paris. When you walk into the Oceanic Art Pavilion the first thing you see are monumental Ancestor Poles from the Asmat & Mimika along with a Soul Boat, Shields, and Dance Costumes from the Asmat & Mimika, all of those artworks were collected by me at the same time as this fine old drum. Above are two photos from the groundbreaking exhibition “The Asmat & Mimika” at the National Museum of African & Oceanic Art in Paris now part of The Musee du Quai Branly Museum.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Asmat & New Guinea Oceanic Art

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Fine Old Solomon Islands War Club Kwiao People Malaita Island Solomon’s

A Fine Old War Club from the Kwiao People in the interior of Malaita Island in the Solomon Islands Dating from 19th to Early 20th Century

This fine old Subi Club was collected from the Kwiao People who historically lived in small, autonomous groups in the interior of the large island of Malaita. Their religion was heavily based on ancestral deities and their maintenance of moral standards within the community. I was very lucky to be invited by Kwiao men to visit some of their remote villages in the interior of Malaita in 1986, it was a rough two-day walk from the coast and you could only visit there by invite otherwise you would definitely not be welcome. These are proud people who have kept their traditional life through the 20th century as all of their coastal neighbors had converted to Christianity.

The Subi Club is, in my opinion, one of the most elegant-shaped clubs in the Pacific Islands. The diamond-shaped Club head with medial ridges and long tapering handle ends in a small crescent shape. The Handle is bound with bush fibre rope to keep your hand from slipping when sweaty.

This club was bought in the village from an old man. I have kept it for nearly 40 years. The form is slightly irregular as with many of the oldest clubs. Now in the Solomon Islands, many new clubs are made for the tourist market but they have none of the elegance of the old used clubs.

I have put a field photo above from that trip in 1986, this is not the same club that the man is holding but is a very similar old club.

Provenance The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands Art & Oceanic & Pacific Islands Art

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Fine Old New Guinea Massim Soul Boat Trobriand Islands Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

A Fine Old New Guinea Massim Soul Boat from the Trobriand Islands in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.

This fine Massim Ancestor Figural carving is from the Milne Bay Province in the Eastern end of Papua New Guinea. The late Dr Harry Beran the world expert on the Massim culture & art described this type of figural carving as a ” Soul Canoe or Soul Boat “. Though this beautiful artwork was carved for trade Dr Beran thought it came from a traditional art object and in his book ” Massim Tribal Art of Papua New Guinea ” Wollongong University 1980 he shows an example (no.140) and described this as s ” Soul Boat; a stylized boat with the detachable human figure in squatting position, the function of these models are uncertain though in a book by Bodrogi suggests that these carvings are soul boats, that is a model boat that provides transportation to the supernatural world of the dead “.

This artwork was made for trade with Europeans and probably dates from before WW2. The artist was a highly skilled carver who made these very beautifully proportioned squatting ancestor figures and incised with spiral designs that the Massim artists are well known for.

Culturally the Milne Bay region is referred to as “the Massim,” a term originating from the name of Misima Island but is used to describe the artworks from the whole province made of 600 islands, about 160 of which are inhabited.

The regional trading systems of the islands around the eastern end of New Guinea are called Kula and are particularly elaborate trading systems where men had lifetime trading partners and social obligations and shell ornaments and cultural objects that constantly moved between communities.

The Massim artists are well known for their beautiful artworks such as Canoe Ornaments and their amazing Lime Spatulas used when chewing betel nut. The Massim is one of my favorite art styles as their art is non-aggressive and also reminds me of the art of Lake Sentani an area in West Papua where I spent a lot of time.

This artist has a distinct confident style & almost certainly made other artworks If anyone knows of a similar artwork, I would be grateful to hear from you.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Superb Old Timor Island Ancestor Figure Aitos Area East Timor 19th Century

A Superb Old Timor Island Ancestor Figure Aitos Area East Timor Dating from the 19th Century

The fine old Ancestor Figure is from the Aitos Area of East Timor in SE Asia. This distinct style of the Aitos figures area is part of a larger corpus of Ancestor Worship and Art stretching all the way through SE Asia and the Indonesian archipelago and into the island of New Guinea.

Ancestor posts like these played a significant role in rituals that honored ancestral spirits who presided over the land and instructed the Tetum people on all areas of daily life; the raising of cattle, agriculture, hunting & fishing, and architecture.

The ancestors are made visible by these carved figures who pass on the traditions to the living. They also watch over their descendants to ensure that their customs are carefully followed and punish those who fail to conform to the ancient traditions. Offerings to ancestral spirits were placed on stone slabs near the ancestral figures or on the actual figures sometimes adorning them with textiles or traditional ornaments.

Provenance: Daeng Iskander Collection Indonesia & The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea and Indonesian Art

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Fine Old Solomon Islands War Club Santa Cruz Island Eastern Solomon Islands

This Fine Old War Club is from the Santa Cruz Islands Group, which is a group of remote islands in the Pacific Ocean, called Temotu Province in the remote Eastern Solomon Islands. Dating from the late 19th to early 20th Century

This large heavy club was made for a strong large man. The most striking aspect of this club is the row of finely carved sharks in high relief down the center of the club.

I could not find the shape of this club in my limited library resource and I can’t say 100 % for sure it is from the Santa Cruz Island group but the way that the sharks are carved looks exactly like other Santa Cruz Islands Sharks carved on their ancestor figures ( see attached photo of figure from the British Museum) and also they had similar carved Sharks on other types of artefacts including the wood charms attached to the famous Santa Cruz Red Feather Money Currency Rolls (see example photo above).

As noted by the anthropologist William Davenport in his book: ” Santa Cruz Islands Sculpture and its ritual context ” 2005 the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

Meboku is a Shark Human deity in Santa Cruz Islands mythology and he is prevalent in many of their stories.

Some of the very old carved wood ancestor figures called Dukna have sharks attached to their body and some of these Dukna figures are depicted grasping a club or baton which is actually a Shark Killing Club and refer to the fishing for this awesome animal and other large fish like Tuna.

The shape of the club & the shark’s designs in high relief make this a beautiful sculptural artwork.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands Art

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us

A Fine Old Japanese Natural Form Burl Wood Okimono or Scholars Object

This Fine Japanese Natural Form Burl Wood Scholars Object or Okimono

The Japanese aesthetic of using natural forms in wood with minimal carving are some of the most beautiful objects I have ever seen or collected.

A Scholars Object or Okimono is a Japanese decorative object created specifically for visual enjoyment. This form is described in Japanese as Wabi-Sabi

In Zen philosophy there are seven aesthetic principles for achieving Wabi-Sabi as listed below;

Fukinsei (不均斉): asymmetry, irregularity;

Kanso (簡素): simplicity;

Koko (考古): basic, weathered;

Shizen (自然): without pretence, natural;

Yugen (幽玄): subtly profound grace, not obvious;

Datsuzoku (脱俗): unbounded by convention, free;

This beautiful object can be whatever you see in it at all the different angles, just as when viewing clouds in the sky each person sees something different.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Japanese Art & Objects & Asian Art & Objects.

I started collecting some Asian Artworks in my early 20s. I was fascinated not only by the beautiful forms but also by the cultures and the spirituality that created them. I love the natural form wood objects & ceramics that the Japanese find and use in their tea ceremonies. These artworks from Japan & Buddhist Art from Tibet & SE Asia all look amazing when displayed with New Guinea & Oceanic Art, they balance & complement each other.

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996
I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.

I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.
My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

Archives: Art For Sale

A Superb Old New Guinea Abelam Wood Head Prince Alexander Mountains East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Maori Ceremonial Adze by the Maori Master Carver John Collins New Zealand

Superb Collection of New Guinea Massim Lime Spatulas Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

INQUIRE HERE

A Superb Old New Guinea Asmat Canoe Prow Ornament West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

INQUIRE HERE

A Superb Old New Guinea Drum Asmat People West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

A Fine Old Solomon Islands War Club Kwiao People Malaita Island Solomon’s

INQUIRE HERE

A Fine Old New Guinea Massim Soul Boat Trobriand Islands Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

INQUIRE HERE

A Superb Old Timor Island Ancestor Figure Aitos Area East Timor 19th Century

INQUIRE HERE

A Fine Old Solomon Islands War Club Santa Cruz Island Eastern Solomon Islands

A Fine Old Japanese Natural Form Burl Wood Okimono or Scholars Object

INQUIRE HERE

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