Archives: Art For Sale

A Fine Old Vanuatu Canoe Ornament from Vao Island Malekula Vanuatu

This simple elegant bird form canoe ornament is from the small Island called Vao off the Northeast Coast of Malekula Island in Vanuatu. The stylized bird totem that sat at the front of the canoe was a clear sign of the person’s status in the men’s secret societies that are part of Vanuatu’s traditional culture.  Birds are important designs in traditional Vanuatu & Solomon Islands Art.

Vanuatu was once known as The New Hebrides it was a joint  British & French colony until independence in 1980 when the name was changed independent Vanuatu.  Vanuatu is an archipelago of Islands with many distinct languages and cultures.  The traditional cultures in Vanuatu have remained strong.  The ancient system of ” Grade Taking ” in the Men’ Secret Societies is still practiced.

Provenance: Ex Nicolai Michoutchkine Collection. Nicolai (1925- 2010) and his partner Aloi were well-known artists living in Port Villa for a very long time. They had an extensive oceanic collection that was toured around the world for many years.  They were old friends of mine and I bought many Oceanic Artworks from them.   

The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

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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 Totemic Bird Figure from Kupkein Village Upper Sepik River Papua New Guinea. Dates from the early to mid-20th Century 

This elegant totemic bird sculpture is from the Nggala people in Kupkein Village on the Upper Sepik River Area in the East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea,

Beautifully carved this long-necked bird with outstretched wings as if it is in flight, the entire bird has deeply incised designs that are unique to the Nggala people in two villages only on the Upper Sepik River; Kupkein & Swagap. The designs are highlighted with white, yellow, and black ochre painting.  There is no apparent place for the bird to stand on its own so I am guessing that it was tied by a rope or string to the ceiling in the Men’s Cult House as many ceremonial objects are.

I have not previously seen any bird figures specifically like this but there are artworks from these villages in the book “Crocodile and Cassowary: Religious Art of The Upper Sepik River New Guinea by Douglas Newton at The Museum of Primitive Art in NY 1971 and you can see artwork s with similar designs on them on pages 46-49.

Swagap & two other small villages nearby have a common language & would share the same ceremonies.  These ceremonies are very important to the well-being of the entire community, they ensure safety from malevolent spirits and people, ensure that the crops will grow & that people’s behavior will be guided by their ancestors.

Birds in New Guinea art can be important clan totems and also anthropomorphic spirit beings that are half man; primordial bird-men and bird-women, who originally created the sacred musical instruments, consisting of bamboo flutes and slit gongs that were kept within the ceremonial houses and played central role in the ritual life of their communities.

I visited Kupkein & Swagap Villages in 1986 at that time I saw no Cult House or ceremonial objects being made or stored and when asked about ceremonial objects they said ” that was our grandparents ”

It is now on a fine custom-made stand that allows the bird to fly in space.

Provenance:  Kirby Kallas Lewis Collection Seatle 

The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea 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.

A Fine New Guinea Anthropomorphic Figure Papuan Gulf Area, South Coast Papua New Guinea

This amazing sculpture was made by an artist from the Bamu River Area of the Papuan Gulf on the South Coast of Papua New Guinea. Called Imunu these figures are carved from the roots of the mangrove trees where the natural form is found in the tree and only small carvings & designs are added to represent powerful spirits that dwell in the bush and in isolated swamps. Imunu representing these spirits in their visible form is originally used to cajole or coax supernatural beings into attending to human needs and protection.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic New Guinea 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 Canoe Prow Ornament Asmat People West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

This fine old Canoe Prow Ornament from the Asmat People, Asatat Village in the remote NW West Asmat Area on the South Coast of West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia.  This beautiful old carving of three heads stacked one on top of the other are likely a reference to headhunting.  In pre-contact times headhunting was prolific as it was part of the Asmat people’s spiritual well-being.

I collected this canoe ornament in 1985 I told that it was made by their grandfather and kept as a memory.

I spent a lot of time in the Asmat region in the early 1980’s and old sculptures of this quality were rare.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea 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 in 1996 (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 New Guinea Dance Costume Called Manama from the Asmat People South Coast West Papua Irian Jaya