Archives: Art For Sale

Art For Sale

A Superb Old New Guinea War Shield Angu People Eastern Highlands Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea War Shield, Angu People, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea 

This beautiful old shield which is certainly stone carved and with simple painted stripes designs is like a superb modernist painting.

The people in this area of the Eastern Highlands though small in stature were some of the most feared warriors in New Guinea. See my field photo of an Angu Man dancing with his shield circa 1986.  The Angu were also known as the Kukukuku but this was a derogatory name from a different tribal group

These designs are mesmerizing to look at, most New Guinea Shields designs are meant to frighten or confuse the enemy,  I was told this by many different tribal groups in New Guinea and West Papua,

In many areas of New Guinea shields are said to be vessels for ancestral spirits and often have personal names that only the owner of the shield can invoke.

When you see this Shield in person you can see right away that it is a very old shield and though ancient in its tradition it is also a superb modernist painting that would fit well in a modern house with modern art.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art & Shields

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 Old New Guinea War Shield Angu People Eastern Highlands Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old War Shield, Angu People, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea 

This beautiful old shield with simple painted stripes designs is like a superb modernist painting. The cut out at the top is for the warrior to be able to see their enemy without lowering the shield completely

The people in this area of the Eastern Highlands though small in stature were some of the most feared warriors in New Guinea. See my field photo of an Angu Man dancing with his shield circa 1986.  The Angu were also known as the Kukukuku but this was a derogatory name from a different tribal group

These designs are mesmerizing to look at;  most New Guinea Shields the designs are meant to frighten or confuse the enemy.  I was told this by many different tribal groups in New Guinea and West Papua,

In many areas of New Guinea shields are said to be vessels for ancestral spirits and often have personal names that only the owner of the shield can invoke.

When you see this Shield in person you can see right away that it is a very old shield and though ancient in its tradition it is also a superb modernist painting that would fit well in a modern house with modern art.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art & Shields

Two Superb Old New Guinea Bailer Shell Necklaces Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea

Two Superb Old New Guinea Bailer Shell Necklaces Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea

These Two Superb Large Old Bailer Shell Necklaces are from the Mendi Valley Area of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. They date from the 19th Century and have a beautiful warm patina from generations of use.

These large Bailer Shell Necklaces were not just pretty ornaments to wear but also an important type of traditional wealth and currency that was used to pay for bridal dowries, land disputes, or given as a sign of respect during funerals of important clan leaders both men & women.

These are the most beautiful examples I had field-collected and I have kept them in my private collection for 38 years.  These ornaments would have taken a huge amount of time to make using traditional tools, cutting them with sand and bamboo friction method.

As you can see in the field photos they are worn the convex side out & equally worn by both men and women.

Most shell ornaments made in New Guinea were not only objects of great beauty but all a store of traditional wealth that families & clans kept & used and traded and received for generations.

The Highlands areas of New Guinea are a long way to the coast where shells were found, they are traded and slowly work their way through walking tracks through different communities and finally reach the Highlands people where they are important objects of traditional wealth.

The fertile Highlands have long been inhabited and artifacts uncovered in the Ivane Valley indicate that the Highlands were first settled about 50,000 years ago. The inhabitants were nomadic foragers but around 10,000 years ago began developing a fairly advanced agricultural society.  The Highlands were not settled by the Western powers during the early colonial period and they were first visited by western zoologists and explorers, such as Mick Leahy who opened the Wahgi Valley and Mount Hagen, and Richard Archbold in the 1930s.

I spent several years in the early 1980s traveling to remote areas in both West Papua & Papua New Guinea collecting & documenting traditional art & ceremonies, much of what I collected is now in important museums & private collections around the world.

Large old Bailer Shells like these two were rare and still highly valued when I was there 40 years ago.

These beautiful shell ornaments and others I am starting to list on my website were from my private collection that I have kept for 40 years and I am now ready to sell due to age & health.   Keep looking at my website as I will be adding beautiful art to all the galleries & sub-galleries regularly.

Provenance The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic & New Guinea Arts & Arts of West Papua Indonesia

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 Fine Old Solomon Islands Hair Comb Malaita Island 19th Century

A Fine Old Solomon Islands Hair Comb Malaita Island 19th Century

This very beautiful old Hair Comb Ornament is from Malaita Island in the Eastern Solomon Islands.

The Comb is finely decorated with woven red & yellow orchid stems to make fine geometric designs on the front of the comb,

Combs were worn in the hair as ornaments and sometimes they had feathers or colored fiber attached to the tops of the comb. They are called Kafa Gwaroa Doe in the Kwaio Language, I field collected the Comb in the remote Kwaio area in central Malaita 40 years ago.

The Solomon Islands are famous for the very finely made body ornaments like these Combs and Shell Money Ornaments, both are an important type of traditional currency in the Solomon Islands.

Traditional wealth objects like this Comb were often part of a bridal dowry or used payments for compensation in disputes about land or gardens. Each family had some hair comb ornaments and sets of shell money ornaments that were worn on important ceremonial occasions. The two old field photos both show men wearing combs in their hair.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands 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 

See more Fine Oceanic Body Ornaments and Art Objects in Ornaments & Artifacts Gallery

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.

Two Fine Old Solomon Islands Hair Comb Makira Island 19th Century

Two Fine Old Hair Comb Ornaments Makira Island the Solomon Islands 19th Century

These two very beautiful old Hair Comb Ornaments with fine shell inlay are from Makira Island also known as San Christobal Island in the Eastern Solomon Islands.

The combs were made in the late 19th Century, They are called Arapa Reoreo, they were worn in the hair as ornaments and sometimes they had feathers or colored fiber attached to the top of the comb.

These finely made combs are made by specialists with shell inlays set in black nut putty. The Solomon Islanders are famous for their shell work and shell inlays were used on many types of ceremonial objects including the famous Nusu Nusu Canoe Prow Ornaments and Ceremonial Bowls

Fine Comb Ornaments like these along with Shell Money Ornaments are an important type of traditional currency in the Solomon Islands and throughout the Pacific Island in general.

Traditional wealth objects like these were often part of a bridal dowry or used payments for compensation in disputes about land or gardens. Each family had some hair comb ornaments and sets of shell money ornaments that were worn on important ceremonial occasions.  The two old field photos both show men wearing combs in their hair.

Provenance: Old Collection Australia & 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 

See more Fine Oceanic Body Ornaments and Art Objects in Ornaments & Artifacts Gallery

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 New Guinea Shell Pectoral Ornament New Britain Island Papua New Guinea

A Superb New Guinea Shell Pectoral Ornament New Britain Island Papua New Guinea

This Superb Shell Pectoral Ornament is from New Britain Island in the Bismark Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. The large gold-lipped pearl shell was carved out on one side to give it a place to attach dangling ornaments made of tiny shell money beads & ending in dogs’ teeth.  This was not just an ornament to wear but an important type of traditional currency that was used to pay bridal for bridal dowries, land disputes, or given as a sign of respect during funerals of important clan leaders both men & women.  This is the most beautiful example I have ever seen and I have kept it in my private collection for 38 years.  It has a wide tree bark string woven band to be able to wear it over your neck.  It is well displayed on a custom steel stand.

Dogs’ teeth were always an important type of traditional wealth all over New Guinea, they only kept the larger two canine front teeth when their dogs had died of natural causes.  These beautifully shaped canine teeth were then pierced at the top for attaching to ornaments of many types.  When the Germans were part of the Colonial history of  New Guinea before WW1 they could see how important dogs’ teeth were to the native people and they cleverly had them made in Germany from porcelain in great quantities which they then used to pay the local people for working on their plantations.  Old people in New Guinea still had some of these German porcelain dogs’ teeth but they said “We never considered them to be the same value as the real dog’s teeth”.

Most shell & teeth ornaments made in New Guinea were not only objects of great beauty but all a store of traditional wealth that families & clans kept & used and traded and received for generations.

In the Highlands of New Guinea, shells were highly valued and where it took long periods of time for shells to make their way by trade routes from coastal people to the interior,  each step of the way gaining more value. The Kina Shell is a good example, these beautiful crescent-shaped were so valuable that a single whole shell was considered an important object of wealth, they were often coated in red ochre, and sometimes where they were pierced for a necklace the holes were worn through and repaired again and again.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic 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 Old New Guinea Carved Pig Massim Culture Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old Large New Guinea Carved Pig Massim Culture Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea

This very finely carved large Pig Effigy is from the Milne Bay Province in the Eastern part of Papua New Guinea. Dating from the late 19th to early 20th Century. Just as a sculpture, it has a lot of charm and it definitely brightens my home and everyone seems to enjoy it.

Pigs in New Guinea are the most important animals for all communities, not only are they an important food source but also, they are a form of traditional wealth & currency.  Wild boars are respected as powerful animals that can easily kill a man, they are also totemic clan emblems, in my time spent with the Marind Anim People on the South Coast of West Papua one of the most important clans were the Pig or Wild Boar Clan and they had a sacred Dema Costume for the Pig Clan.

Pigs are also gifted during traditional ceremonies and can be used to make alliances between different clan groups but also when gifted they incur deep long-term commitments to be called on in the future when needed.

In New Guinea carved wood pigs would have ceremonial or ritual uses, pigs or boars appear on all kinds of ceremonial objects like giant Slit Gong Drums, Sacred Flutes, Trumpets & House Posts.

In the John Friede / Jolika Collection now at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, there is an ancient Massim carved wood pig that was carbon-dated 1520-1810 with a 95% probability. It has an ancient encrusted patina from handling and use. The Friede Pig Carving is basically the same size at 42.4 cm and in the same style with incised designs.  It was published in the Jolika Collection bookplate 408  See photo above

Pigs sculptures have a long history going back to ancient China there were bronze & ceramic pig sculptures

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 Fine Old First Australian Shield From Lagrange Bay Area West Australia

A Fine Old First Australian Shield From Lagrange Bay Area West Australia

This finely carved old shield is from the La Grange Bay Area of Western Australia and dates from the early 20th Century.

The shield has finely incised interlocking key designs only on the back of the shield where the lug handle is.  The back of the shield is undecorated except for the red ochre decoration that was applied to both the front and back sides.

These designs are unique in Australia to Karadjeri People of the La Grange Bay Area of the Northeast Coast of Western Australia. This design is also found on the famous pearl shell ornaments called “Longka Longka” from this area.

One of the most interesting motifs in aboriginal Australian decorative art is the interlocking key design, a design prominent at one time or another in many parts of the world, including ancient Greece, China, and Peru.

This design is also sometimes found on Spear Throwers but it is on the back of the Karadjeri shields where the design is executed in the most elegant manner,

Reference: Interlocking Key Design in Aboriginal Australian Decorative Art. Dr. D. S. Davidson. First published: September 1949

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Aboriginal and Oceanic Arts

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 Beautiful Vintage Tiwi Painting from Melville Island Northern Territory Australia

A Beautiful Vintage Tiwi Painting from Melville Island Northern Territory Australia

This beautiful Tiwi Painting is from Melville or Bathhurst Islands which are located approximately 80 kilometers to the north of Darwin in the Northern Territory, at the juncture of the Arafura and Timor seas, the Tiwi Islands comprise Bathurst and Melville Islands.  The islands are home to the Tiwi people – the fiercely independent, culturally unique, and traditional owners of the land. ‘Tiwi’ loosely translates as ‘one people and island culture is characterized by a shared belief in the need to keep Tiwi customs alive. The language and traditions of the Tiwi are distinct, setting them apart from Aboriginal cultures on mainland Australia. Within this context, Tiwi art has developed over time, across various genres, incorporating and expanding upon traditional motifs drawn from Tiwi people’s understanding of cultural cosmologies.

The Painting is depicting Tiwi Clan Designs that are used on body painting and ceremonial objects for Pukamani Ceremonies.

The painting is in good condition and the ochre colours are still bright & beautiful. I bought this painting when visiting Melville Island in the 1990s. I tried to buy some paintings from different artists at the arts center.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Australian Aboriginal Art

 

 

A Beautiful Vintage Tiwi Painting from Melville Island Northern Territory Australia

A Beautiful Vintage Tiwi Painting from Melville Island Northern Territory Australia

This beautiful Tiwi Painting is from Melville or Bathhurst Islands which are located approximately 80 kilometers to the north of Darwin in the Northern Territory, at the juncture of the Arafura and Timor seas, the Tiwi Islands comprise Bathurst and Melville Islands.  The islands are home to the Tiwi people – the fiercely independent, culturally unique, and traditional owners of the land. ‘Tiwi’ loosely translates as ‘one people, and island culture is characterized by a shared belief in the need to keep Tiwi customs alive. The language and traditions of the Tiwi are distinct, setting them apart from Aboriginal cultures on mainland Australia. Within this context, Tiwi art has developed over time, across various genres, incorporating and expanding upon traditional motifs drawn from Tiwi people’s understanding of cultural cosmologies.

The Painting is depicting Tiwi Clan Designs that are used on body painting and ceremonial objects for Pukamani Ceremonies.

The painting is in good condition and the ochre colours are still bright & beautiful. I bought this painting when visiting Melville Island in the 1990s. I tried to buy some paintings from different artists at the arts center.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Australian Aboriginal Art

 

 

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