Our catalogue > Tribal Art – Oceania

The ‘tribal’ arts of New Guinea, Fiji, the Maori of New Zealand and other Oceanic cultures are to be found on this page.

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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8960

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    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

    7256

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      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.

      8542

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        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

        7261

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          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

          8461

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            Fijian Barkcloth Cloth (Masi)

            Fiji
            19th-20th century

            length: approximately 170.5cm, width: approximately 87cm

            Provenance

            UK art market

            8527

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              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

              8529

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                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

                7312

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                  Fijian Terracotta Water Vessel (Saqamoli)

                  Fiji
                  19th-20th century

                  height: 16.5cm, width: 15cm, weight: 875g

                  Provenance

                  Antiques market, Scotland.

                  8543

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                    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

                    8540

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                      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

                      8545

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                        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

                        8546

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                          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

                          7246

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                            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

                            8526

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                              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.

                              7202

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                                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.

                                7247

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                                  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.

                                  1984

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                                    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.

                                    7020

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                                      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

                                      6522

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                                        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.

                                        2181

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                                          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.

                                          6529

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                                            Superb, Early Aboriginal Spear Thrower (Woomera)

                                            Aboriginal People, Western Australia, probably the Western Kimberleys Region
                                            19th century

                                            height: 62.5cm, width: 8cm, weight: 288g

                                            Provenance

                                            UK art market

                                            6521

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                                              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)

                                              4236

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                                                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

                                                2185

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                                                  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.

                                                  5443

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                                                    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

                                                    2992

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                                                      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

                                                      4755

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                                                        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

                                                        2940

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                                                          Fijian Throwing Club (I Ula Tavatava)

                                                          Fiji
                                                          18th-early 19th century

                                                          length: 42cm

                                                          Provenance

                                                          UK art market; private UK collection.

                                                          2746

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                                                            Rare Solomon Islands Ceremonial Child’s Dance Wand or Staff (Napa)

                                                            Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands
                                                            circa 1900

                                                            length: 75.5cm

                                                            Provenance

                                                            UK art market

                                                            2096

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                                                              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

                                                              1032

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                                                                Aboriginal Mulga Wood Spear Thrower (Woomera)

                                                                Aboriginal People, Central Australia
                                                                circa 1940

                                                                height: 77cm, width: 11cm

                                                                Provenance

                                                                UK art market

                                                                2184

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                                                                  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.

                                                                  2187

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                                                                    Sepik Samban Hook Figure

                                                                    Italmul People, Middle Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea
                                                                    first half of the 20th century

                                                                    height: 97cm, width: 30cm

                                                                    Provenance

                                                                    Francis de Sales McHugh Collection, and thence by descent, collected by de Sales McHugh in the first half of the 20th century.

                                                                    2182

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                                                                      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 .

                                                                      3391

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                                                                        Aboriginal Pineapple Pandanus Head Battle Club

                                                                        Central Queensland, Australia
                                                                        early 20th century

                                                                        length: 72.5cm, weight: 541g

                                                                        Provenance

                                                                        UK art market