Michael Backman Ltd
Tribal Art of Oceania
Tribal Art of Oceania
Whale's Tooth Tabua with Sinnet Cord
Fiji
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 850
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Fiji
late 19th century
Inventory no.: 850
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- Or click here to see African Tribal Art items & here to see Asian Tribal Art items or here to see all the items in the Michael Backman Ltd catalogue - |
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Aboriginal Mulga Wood Spear Thrower (Woomera)
Western Desert, Western Australia
circa 1940
Inventory no.: 1032
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Western Desert, Western Australia
circa 1940
Inventory no.: 1032
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Green Nephrite Adze Blade
Middle Sepik River, New Guinea
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 1030
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Middle Sepik River, New Guinea
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 1030
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Man’s Woven Comb (Faa)
Kwaio People, Malaita, Solomon Islands
19th or early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1057
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Kwaio People, Malaita, Solomon Islands
19th or early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1057
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Stained Kina Shell Necklace
Southern Highlands, New Guinea
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1474
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Southern Highlands, New Guinea
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1474
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Greenstone Hafted Adze & Handle
Polynesia, probably Rotuma or New Guinea
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 1473
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Polynesia, probably Rotuma or New Guinea
19th century or earlier
Inventory no.: 1473
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From where do we source our items? We do not go on buying trips to Asia. Nor do we actively buy from dealers or suppliers based in Asia. We do not source items
from the Pacific itself for example. Almost all the items stocked by Michael Backman Ltd have been sourced from the UK - from old collections. Countless items were
brought to the UK during the colonial era by colonial administrators and the like. Other items were made in Asia for export to the UK – the UK was wealthy early: it has been
a major destination for the world’s exports for hundreds of years. This means that most of our items have been in the UK for at least sixty to two hundred years.
The conditions in which they have been kept often has been very good – the climate is kind, and there are relatively few pests. Many items were acquired as keepsakes
and curios, meaning that they stopped being used once they came to the UK. This too has helped to preserve them and their conditions often are far better than had they
remained in their home countries. Buying from old UK sources means that the items have good provenance; it helps to avoid fakes, and items that have been amended or
embellished. It also means that our items are obtained legally – today, most countries in Asia prohibit the export of their antiques. So, because of its colonial past, the UK is
perhaps the world’s biggest source of genuine antiques from Asia, perhaps more so than Asia itself, and that is the source into which we tap.
All the items on this page are available for sale. We are based in central London, but sell to clients around the world. Want to enquire about an item on this page?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From where do we source our items? We do not go on buying trips to Asia. Nor do we actively buy from dealers or suppliers based in Asia. We do not source items
from the Pacific itself for example. Almost all the items stocked by Michael Backman Ltd have been sourced from the UK - from old collections. Countless items were
brought to the UK during the colonial era by colonial administrators and the like. Other items were made in Asia for export to the UK – the UK was wealthy early: it has been
a major destination for the world’s exports for hundreds of years. This means that most of our items have been in the UK for at least sixty to two hundred years.
The conditions in which they have been kept often has been very good – the climate is kind, and there are relatively few pests. Many items were acquired as keepsakes
and curios, meaning that they stopped being used once they came to the UK. This too has helped to preserve them and their conditions often are far better than had they
remained in their home countries. Buying from old UK sources means that the items have good provenance; it helps to avoid fakes, and items that have been amended or
embellished. It also means that our items are obtained legally – today, most countries in Asia prohibit the export of their antiques. So, because of its colonial past, the UK is
perhaps the world’s biggest source of genuine antiques from Asia, perhaps more so than Asia itself, and that is the source into which we tap.
All the items on this page are available for sale. We are based in central London, but sell to clients around the world. Want to enquire about an item on this page?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rare Christian Altar Cross Inlaid with Pearl Shell
Solomon Islands
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 1595
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Solomon Islands
circa 1900
Inventory no.: 1595
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Carved, Wooden Lime Spatula
Tobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1651
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Tobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea
early 20th century
Inventory no.: 1651
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Finely Carved Staff (Tokotoko)
Maori, Waikato Area, New Zealand
circa 1870-1880
Inventory no.: 1582
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Maori, Waikato Area, New Zealand
circa 1870-1880
Inventory no.: 1582
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Pair of Cone Shell Ear Ornaments
New Guinea
collected in 1859
Inventory no.: 1984
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New Guinea
collected in 1859
Inventory no.: 1984
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Ceremonial Wooden Four-Tined ‘Cannibal’ Fork
Fiji
early 19th century
Inventory no.: 1988
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Fiji
early 19th century
Inventory no.: 1988
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