Our catalogue > Tribal Art – Oceania
All pieces are for sale, and each has been selected for its artistic merit, patina and provenance.
Each piece has been sourced from within the UK, often from old colonial-era collections.
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Rare Torres Strait Turtle Shell Mask
Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia before 1870
length: approximately 19.5cm, width: 13cm, weight: 249g
Provenance
Julian Harding, London
Large & Early Kina Shell Pectoral Pendant with Stone-Drilled Holes
Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea late 18th-19th century
width: approximately 19cm, weight: 183g
Provenance
Julian Harding Collection, London
Maori Small Hei-Tiki Greenstone Pendant
Maori People, New Zealand early 20th century
length: 4.7cm, width: 3cm, weight: 17g
Provenance
UK art market
Oceanic Cowrie & Sinnet Cord Necklace
Pacific Islands early 20th century
circumference: approximately 80cm, length of cowries: 6.5-7.8cm, weight: 309g
Provenance
private collection, UK
Maori Trolling Lure Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai)
Maori People, New Zealand 18th-19th century
length (without cord): 14.8cm, width: 2cm, weight: 20g
Provenance
UK art market; UK private collection.
Solomon Islands Engraved Shell Pendants with Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of the largest shell pendant): 5.8cm, weight: 92g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Fijian Bark Cloth Beater (Ike ni Masi), ex Tost & Rohu of Sydney
Fiji 19th century
legnth: 41cm, width: 4cm, weight: 516g
Provenance
private collection, UK; Acquired from Tost & Rohu, Sydney - 1930s or earlier
Fijian Barkcloth Cloth (Masi)
Fiji 19th-20th century
length: approximately 170.5cm, width: approximately 87cm
Provenance
UK art market
Solomon Islands Comb (Faa) & Original Palm Leaf Wrapping
Kwaio People, Malaita, Solomon Islands early 20th century
length: 18.5cm, width: 7cm, combined weight: 23g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Small Pectoral Pendant (Tafi or Dafe)
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length: 9.3cm, weight: 25g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Fijian Terracotta Water Vessel (Saqamoli)
Fiji 19th-20th century
height: 16.5cm, width: 15cm, weight: 875g
Provenance
Antiques market, Scotland.
Solomon Islands Carved Clam Shell & Seed Necklace
Solomon Islands early 20th century
width (of shell pendant): 8.5cm, weight: 99g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Gold Lipped Pearl Shell Pendant with attached Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of shell): 7cm, width: 6.7cm, weight: 26g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Engraved Shell Pendants with Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of the largest pendant): 6.6cm, weight: 98g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Large Pectoral Pendant (Tafi or Dafe)
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length: 20.7cm, weight: 190g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Fijian Carved Wooden Bowl, possibly a Priest’s Dish
Fiji 19th century & possibly earlier
length: 53.2cm, width: 19cm, depth: approximately 8cm, weight: 1,105g
Provenance
UK art market; private UK collection
Solomon Islands Turtleshell & Carved Abalone Shell Trolling Lure Fish Hook
Solomon Islands, probably Malaita Island 19th century
length: 7.9cm, width: 1.4cm, weight: 5g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator.
New Hebrides Abalone Shell & Turtleshell Trolling Lure Fish Hook
New Hebrides (Vanuatu) 19th century
length: 7.5cm, width: 1.9cm, weight: 13g
Provenance
UK art market; UK private collection.
Fijian Trolling Lure Fish Hook (Bayaloyalo)
Fiji early-to-mid 19th century
length: approximately 10.2cm, width: 1.4cm, weight: 8g
Provenance
UK art market; UK private collection.
Pair of New Guinea Cone-Shell Ear Ornaments, dated 1859
New Guinea collected in 1859
maximum diameter of each: 7cm
Provenance
UK art market; private collection, UK.
Fijian Tapa Bark Cloth Beater (Ike ni Masi)
Fiji, probably Viti Levu Highlands region late 18th century
length: 36.4cm, weight: 771g
Provenance
UK art market
Maori Greywacke Club (Patu Onewa)
Maori People, New Zealand 18th century
length: 37.2cm, width: 9.4cm, weight: 1,109g
Provenance
private collection, London, UK; prior to that, Christie's Paris, December 2003.
Life-sized Sepik Ancestor Figure
Sepik Region, New Guinea late 19th century
height: 165cm
Provenance
Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century.
Andaman Islands Man’s Dance Regalia
Andaman Islands, possibly from the Jarawa Tribe, South Andaman circa 1900
indicative length of headdress (band & tassels): 49cm
Provenance
private collection, London. UK; previously, Charles Wilfred Hext (b.1880-1919)
Early New Guinea Wooden & Bone Mace or Club
Papua New Guinea, probably Sepik region 19th century and possibly earlier
length: 64.2cm, diameter of head: 9cm, weight: 190g
Provenance
UK art market
Sepik Earthenware Roof Ridge Tile with Pigments
Chambri Lakes, Sepik River, Papua New Guinea early 20th century
height: 42cm, width: 25.5cm
Provenance
Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, collected by de Sales McHugh in the early 20th century.
Early, Carved Wooden Massim Sword Club or Lime Spatula
Massim area, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea 18th-19th century
length: 62.5cm, width at widest point: 8cm
Provenance
UK art market
Rare Massim Double Pedestal Cup with Spirit Figures
Massim People, Trobiand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea 20th century
height: 70.5cm, diameter of bowl: 20.5cm
Provenance
private collection, UK
Unusual Massim Carved, Wooden Lime Spatula Shaped as a Hornbill
Massim People, Tobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea early 20th century
length: 38.3cm
Provenance
UK art market
Fijian Throwing Club (I Ula Tavatava)
Fiji 18th-early 19th century
length: 42cm
Provenance
UK art market; private UK collection.
Rare Solomon Islands Ceremonial Child’s Dance Wand or Staff (Napa)
Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands circa 1900
length: 75.5cm
Provenance
UK art market
Very Fine Man’s Woven Comb (Faa)
Kwaio People, Malaita, Solomon Islands 19th or early 20th century
height: 20cm, width: 5.5cm
Provenance
UK art market
Aboriginal Mulga Wood Spear Thrower (Woomera)
Aboriginal People, Central Australia circa 1940
height: 77cm, width: 11cm
Provenance
UK art market
Sepik Kominimung Shield
Pora Pora or Bien River, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea first half of the 20th century
height: 117cm, width: 46cm
Provenance
Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, and thence by descent, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century.
Sepik Lime Container in the form of a Rooster on a Crocodile
Iatmul People, Middle Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea first half of the 20th century
length: 68cm
Provenance
Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, and thence by descent, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century .
Aboriginal Pineapple Pandanus Head Battle Club
Central Queensland, Australia early 20th century
length: 72.5cm, weight: 541g
Provenance
UK art market