Oceanic Folk Art

Fine Aboriginal Wunda shield in carved with Zigzag Geometric fluted design colored with red and cream pigment. As well as a collectible historical Tribal artefact this Shield makes ...

A wonderful, large original acrylic painting on canvas by Australian Aboriginal artist/author/ activist/dramatist Sally Morgan titled "Marble Bar Pool." The work is signed, dated (...

Large Early Papua New Guinea Carved Coconut Scoop or Spoon with Figure Scoop is 3 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4", on custom wood and metal base total height 7 1/2 ...

Antique Māori Carved Hardwood Architectural Panel – Tiki Design A Rare and finely carved antique Māori hardwood architectural element, likely originati...

Vintage Papua New Guinea Tribal Tapa Cloth A striking vintage tapa cloth from Papua New Guinea, handcrafted from natural barkcloth and decorated with traditional tribal motifs. Made...

Created by the Massim Peoples from Trobriand Islands off New Guinea. A standing animal wood sculpture, probably of a tree kangaroo with shell eyes. Finely incised designs on parts ...

A wonderful, unique, relatively large, very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal dreaming painting by Northern Territory Yolngu artist David Malangi (1927-1999. He is ...

Obliqua Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 12 x W 28 x x H 45 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes fr...

Impressively carved from a single block of wood, this monumental male spirit or ancestor figure originates from the Middle Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. The figure combines stron...

Hagi Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 14 x W 32 x x H 40 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from ...

Papua New Guinea: Talipun, Boiken, Sepik River Region  Northern Papua New Guinea, 20th Century  A fine example of the rich cultural heritage of Papua New ...

A Tonga Pakipaki war club, Polynesia, 18th century An exceptional ironwood war club originating from Tonga, Polynesia. 18th century and hand carved with complex geometric patterns running the length of the shaft. 4 human and 1 botanical glyphs and a extra carving, see details in picture 2 The Tongan war club...

Two Oceanic ceremonial weapons from PNG highlands circa 20th century. It consists of two pieces. The first is an ax with a wood shaft and a flat elongated he...

Papua New Guinea standing figure from the Bioma peoples with raised designs, stylized classic face, and additional face in stomach. Mounted on custom metal and wood base. Traces of...

A stunning abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (also known as Mrs. Bennett; 1935-2013). Acrylic on Belgium Linen and painted in 2006. Untitled, t...

Large dark reddish brown carved wood mask with underlying traces of red pigment, from New Guinea Sepik River Area. Strong downward looking expression, carved fringe edges. Signs of...

A pair of Papua New Guinea Mendi wooden war shields on custom stands from the mid-20th century. This pair of war shields originate from the Mendi region, within the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. These oceanic war shields were not only created for protecting oneself for tribal warfare, but also in ancestral and ritual worship. They are adorn in various motifs, coloring and symbolism, intended to protect the carrier from magic and bring fear to the opponent. The shields are displayed upright on a custom black iron Stand, with the tallest of the set standing at a height of over 4.5 ft tall. This pair of Papua New Guinea shields...

A 19th century boomerang from Australia. Good patina and presented on a stand.

Impressive hand carved wooden shield by the Asmat people of Papua New Guinea, featuring bold symmetrical motifs and traces of original white and dark pigment. The elongated form is crowned by a stylized ancestral figure, giving the piece a strong sculptural and ceremonial presence. Asmat shields...

A wonderful, unique, and very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal painting featuring two Mimi spirit figures. The painting is made with natural earth pigments which ar...

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik tightly woven raffia mask from a talipun bride price currency. Areas of white, black and red pigments. Wonderful heart shaped face with open eyes and mouth. This mask or face would have been tied to a large shell which was the currency used...

A stunning abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (also known as Mrs. Bennett; 1935-2013). Entitled "Tjukurla Country", this work was acrylic on Be...

A wonderful, unique, very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal dreaming painting by Northern Territory artist Robin Marrwurduwurdu (Lamilami) Nganjmirra (1951-1991 or 1...

Aboriginal Carved & Painted Coolamon A hand-carved wooden Aboriginal coolamon ( bowl ), decorated with traditional ochre pigments in earthy yellow, red, and black. The surfac...

Tapa cloth made from mulberry fiber with natural pigments, Fiji, mid-20th century.

This is likely a one of a kind and extraordinarily beautiful Arts And Crafts 16 inch tall hand incised and hand painted pyrography turned wooden vase. Depicted are grape and flora...

A wonderful, unique, and very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal painting featuring a Wandjina figure. The painting is made with natural earth pigments which are han...

Tapa dance shield. Baining People, New Britain, Papua New Guinea. First half, 20th century Pounded mulberry bark painted with natural pigments Measure...

Yua Shell Currency, Bride’s Price Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea Hand carved from a clam shell Measures: 7 x 7.5 in / 18 x 19 cm Height on cus...

Entitled "Two Kuniya (Pythons) During Tingari Cycle", this mesmerizing painting was painted by Australian aboriginal artist Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa...

Early Papua New Guinea painted Maprik carved hard wood mask with long curved tongue. Mid-20th century, Provenance: ex Michael Hamson, CA with label on back. Classic Maprik colo...

This striking early 20th century tapa bark cloth from Western Samoa and the greater Tongan cultural sphere is a rare and powerful example of Pacific Island textile artistry. Hand-pai...

Yua Shell Currency, Bride’s Price Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea Hand carved from a clam shell Measures: 7.5 x 8.5 in / 19 x 22 cm Height on c...

A wonderful, beautifully composed, gorgeously colored, quite engaging very large triptych screenprint titled "Black Marlin" by indigenous Australian...

A monumental Australian aboriginal original hand colored lithograph on paper work of art, 19th century about 1847,. Over line: South Australia Illustrated Title: Portraits of the...

A wonderful, unique, and quite engaging original dot painting titled "Women's Ceremony, Ochre Pits, Milky Way" by indigenous Australian Aboriginal artist Janet Forrester Ngala (Born ...

This belt is a traditional ceremonial men's ornament, knotted from a strong heavy handmade cord and showing a dark patina vegetable dye. Two rows of cowries are used to cover the su...

A contemporary painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa (1943-2023). Entitled "Rain Dreaming", the artwork was acrylic on canvas and painted in 1999 Fully documented: originally purchased in 1999 from Kimberley Australian Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, cat. no. KA 708/99; The in the collection of The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica; It was exhibited in: "G'Day LA" Australia Week, in partnership with the Australian Consulate Los Angeles, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA, 15-25 January 2004. It is housed in a black thin wood frame. Ronnie Tjampitjinpa was born in Pintupi land at Muyinnga, about 100 kilometres west of the Kintore Range, just across the Western Australian border. He is the son of Uta Uta Tjangala’s older brother, Minpuru Tjangala (c.1899–1976). Artist's Biography (Courtesy of Art Gallery NSW) After his initiation into Pintupi law at the site of Yumari, Tjampitjinpa and his younger brother Smithy Zimran Tjampitjinpa walked into the Aboriginal community of Yuendumu. They later joined their parents and other siblings – who had come in to Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff) in 1956 from the Dover Hills/Yumari area – at the new settlement of Papunya. Tjampitjinpa worked as a labourer, assisting with the fencing of the aerodromes at Papunya and Ikuntji. He was one of the youngest of the group of men who began painting at the start of the Western Desert art movement in 1971, and was a founder of Paunya Tula Artists. During the 1970s, Tjampitjinpa was preoccupied with returning to his traditional lands and became a strong advocate for the outstation movement, travelling between meetings in Papunya, Yuendumu, Wirrimanu (Balgo) and Mount Doreen Station. His goal was finally achieved with the establishment of the Walungurru (Kintore) settlement in 1981. Tjampitjinpa moved there with his young family in 1983, establishing an outstation at Ininti (Redbank) and serving as chairman of the Kintore Outstation Council. During this period, he emerged as one of Papunya Tula Artists’ major painters, pioneering the bold, scaled-up, linear style that came to dominate many of the Walungurru painters’ work during the 1990s. His distinctive aesthetic preoccupa-tion is exemplified in the untitled works of 1994 and 2001. Now one of the last founding members of Papunya Tula Artists, Tjampitjinpa’s career spans more than 40 years. He has had six solo exhibitions since 1989 in Australia, most recently at Utopia Art, Sydney. Throughout the 1980s Tjampitjinpa worked devotedly on a land claim for Ininti, holding meetings in Darwin, Warmun (Turkey Creek...

A Ceremonial Mask Wood Pentecost Island, Vanuatu Early 20th Century Size: 32cm high, 11cm wide, 7.5cm deep - 12½ ins high, 4¼ ins wide, 3 ins deep Provenance: Ex Private coll...

Pisces Crackle Glaze Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D8 x W 27 x x H 30 cm Materials: Ceramic Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 20cm tall - 5...

Early Papua New Guinea painted Maprik carved hard wood mask. Mid-20th century, with wonderful curved expressive asymmetrical face. Long nose with pierced septum. Faded polychrome pig...

Obliqua White Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 12 x W 28 x x H 45 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes fr...

Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea This large, post contact, shield is traditionally decorated in bold colors with a central circle. This ...

A wonderful, unique, and very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal bark painting featuring an image of a freshwater crocodile (t...

Early 20th century abstract tapa bark cloth from western Samoa with a royal coat of arms design. Hand-painted in deep brownish-black tones using traditional ‘o‘a sap blended with ch...

A Mendi 'Compensation' or 'Revenge' Doll, traditionally made with pandanus leaves, bilum string, shells, wood, seeds and objets trouve with pigments. These dolls represent individua...

A ritual artifact from the tribe of the Asmat poeple, an ethnic group of New Guinea living in the Papua province of Indonesia and South-western regions of Papua New Guinea, bis or bisj pole is carved out of a wild Mangrove tree and can reach a stunning height Their carvings depict stacked human and animal figures standing and on top always phallic symbols, in the shape of a canoe prow. Bis poles...

A wonderful 20th Century Samoan/Fijian circular wooden kava bowl called a tanoa fai'ava and carved from a single piece of wood and standing on seventeen round legs. Made of a native ...

Early hand carved stone axe with face, long nose with pierced nostrils, framed by loose oval form. Round eyes and slit mouth. Old worn surface. 8 1/2 inches high, early to mid 20th...

Ceremonial Oceanian Mask made of Vegetal fibers covered with colored clay in certain parts probably used for ceremonial events . The organic and strange shape is well known in these ...

Early 20th century abstract tapa bark cloth from western Samoa with a royal coat of arms design. Hand-painted in deep brownish-black tones using traditional ‘o‘a sap blended with ch...

Decorative coral sculpture. The coral is from the 1970s and has a beautiful light colored green shade. Medium size coral sculpture.

A Finely Carved Polynesian Maori Feather ‘Treasure Box’ and Cover With superb colour and patina Wood, haliotis (abalone) shell New Zealand Early ...

Ray Green Raku Clay Ceramic Sculpture by Stephanie Phillips Dimensions: D 12 x W 35 x x H 50 cm Materials: Ceramic, Raku Clay Also available in other colors and custom sizes from 2...

A striking abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal painter Walangkura Napanangka (1940-2014), one of the matching pair painted in 2007 in Alice Spring. Entitled "Kutungka", acrylic on Belgium linen, inscribed on reverse with gallery catalog no. "Kutungka" depicts the landscape of a country where an old woman named "Kutungka" travelled from Malparingya to Kaltarra in Western Desert during the Dreamtime creation. The highly abstract forms are the dreamtime memory of the land features, such as rock piles and waterholes. Provenance: Grasstree Gallery, Australia. It comes with a COA from the gallery as well as progressive photos taken during the creation of this painting by the artist in 2007. Brief biography From Australian Art Gallery...

Early Papua New Guinea Sepik light wood yam mask. Elegant flame shaped form, old, oxidized wood with black accents, traces of yellow and white pigments. Small...

Late 19th-early 20th Bailer shell pectoral, Highlands, possibly Mendi People, Papua New Guinea These large shell pectorals were worn ceremonially by men and women in Papua New Guine...

A wood club known as Wahaika intricately carved and inlayed with small round shells from New Zealand circa 1920s. The hand-hold club was traditionally used as a close-range combat we...

A striking abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal painter Walangkura Napanangka (1940-2014), one of the matching pair painted in 2007 in Alice Spring. Entitled "Kutungka", acrylic on Belgium linen, inscribed on reverse with gallery catalog no. "Kutungka" depicts the landscape of a country where an old woman named "Kutungka" travelled from Malparingya to Kaltarra in Western Desert during the Dreamtime creation. The highly abstract forms are the dreamtime memory of the land features, such as rock piles and waterholes. Provenance: Grasstree Gallery, Australia. It comes with a COA from the gallery as well as progressive photos taken during the creation of this painting by the artist in 2007. Brief biography From Australian Art Gallery artist...

A beautiful and large example of Oceanic art, this delightful woven mask would have been used on the gable of a middle Sepik meeting house. The wildly expressive form is accentuated ...