Pacific Islands Folk Art
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Place of Origin: Pacific Islands
An engraved Sepik cassowary bone dagger
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Papua New Guinea, Sepik Region, Abelam people, early 20th century
Bone daggers in the Sepik region are traditionally crafted from the thigh bone of the ca...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Bone
Cassowary feather Bilum bag from Papua
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Papua New Guinea, early 20th century,
A Bilum bag from Papua New Guinea, crafted from bark fiber and adorned with cassowary feathers.
Provenance:
- Collection Rinck Hollnberger, Mu...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Feathers
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
New Guinea, Papua Gulf, probably Urama people, late 19th–early 20th century
Attached to the back are several 'b...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Painted Wood Splash Boards on Stands from Papua New Guinea, 2 Available
Located in Atlanta, GA
Note: This listing is for 1 of the Papa New Guinea Splash Boards featured, so if you decide to purchase, let us know which one you'd like.
These decorative painted red and dark grey...
Category
20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage South Seas Carved Teak Mermaid
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early vintage or antique South Seas carved teak Mermaid, circa 1920s or perhaps earlier, a hand carved upright figure holding a carved shell, with deeply carved flowers in grooved hair flowing down back, shell necklace, and scale pattern throughout her tail. The statue is weathered, has a few age cracks, and the end of the tail is broken. Mounted long ago on a late Victorian brass lamp...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Teak
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
New Guinea, Papua Gulf, probably Urama people, late 19th–early 20th century
H. 114 x W. 27 cm
Provenance:
- Co...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Shell Currency Yua Bride's Price, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
20th Century Other Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell
A delicate tortoiseshell 'armband' from the Lower Sepik River Province
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Sepik River Province, Papua New Guinea, probably late 19th century
Tortoiseshell bracelets are frequently more than just ornaments in Sepik River civilizations; they are representat...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Monumental Oceanic Asmat People Carved Painted Wooden War Shield
Located in Forney, TX
A monumental, rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat People tribal carved war shield from the first half of the 20th century, collected from the coast of the headhunting tribe in Papua New Guinea, a Provincial Indonesian island in the mid 20th century.
Among the Asmat, war shields are the most powerful symbolic element of a warrior's equipment, and have many layers of meaning. Traditionally, they were functional items used to protect warriors in battle by deflecting an enemy's spears and arrows. The carved and painted images on the surface of the shields were also intended to frighten the enemy and symbolize the power of the ancestors.
Ancestral imagery appears on multiple forms of Asmat art...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Important Oceanic Carved Asmat Tribal Sago Bowl Serving Platter after War Shield
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and important Oceanic Papuan Asmat tribal carved ancestral sago bowl (also known as a platter, serving shield and tray) crafted in the likes of the...
Category
20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Tapa Tribal Dance Shield, New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Tapa dance shield.
Baining People, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
First half, 20th century
Pounded mulberry bark painted with natural pigments
Measure...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Bamboo, Natural Fiber
20th Century Oceanic Wood Feast Platter with Stylized Flying Fox Motif
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th Century Oceanic Wood Feast Platter with Stylized Flying Fox Motif
Boiken Peoples, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
The platter's rich dark brown ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Other Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Papau New Guinea Sentani Mounted Nephrite Axe, Early 20th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Large and exceptional vintage tribal carved green jade/nephrite axe from Sentani, Papau New Guinea. The Axe is mounted in a custom made bronze base and is...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Shell Currency Yua Bride's Price, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
20th Century Other Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell
Cache-Sexe Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Cache-Sexe Papua New Guinea
Culture, Papua New Guinea
Natural fibers, boar’s tails, and pigment
Mid 20th C.
Dimensions: 10 w x 12 h in./13.75 w ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Other Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Early Papua New Guinea Sepik Light Wood Yam Mask Elegant Flame Shaped Form
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Organic Material, Wood
Papua New Guinea Talipun, Boiken, Sepik River Region
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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 ...
Category
20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Paint, Feathers, Wicker
Early Papua New Guinea Painted Maprik Wood Head or Mask, Strong Expression
Located in Point Richmond, CA
From Papua New Guinea an early painted Maprik carved wood head sculpture or mask, intense expression showing teeth, and two opposing stylize...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Organic Material, Wood
An Unusual Polynesian Fighting Club
Located in London, GB
An Unusual Polynesian Fighting Club
With a superb geometric upper section and unusual spiral twist grip
Dark glossy patina and excellent colour, with a lug to the butt and ‘old’ pa...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early Papua New Guinea Painted Maprik Wood Mask Long Tongue Ex M. Hamson
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Papua New Guinea painted Maprik carved hard wood mask with long curved tongue. Mid-20th century, ex Michael Hamson, CA with label on back.
Classic Maprik colors with faded po...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Organic Material, Wood
Woven Painted Basketry Old Yam Helmet Mask Sculptural Face Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Woven painted basketry yam helmet style mask from Papua New Guinea. Hollow woven form with traces of red and white pigments. Would have been put on top of a large yam as a part of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Organic Material
Three Early Miniature Papua New Guinea Sepik Woven Yam Masks on Custom Bases
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Group of three early Papua New Guinea Sepik miniature tightly woven raffia yam mask with areas of heavy yellow and black pigments.
Different Bird imagery in...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Organic Material
Framed Samoan Tapa Cloth
Located in Highland, IN
This striking piece of Samoan Tapa cloth speaks to the history of the South Pacific islanders who have made these beautiful barkcloth artworks for generations and with it's repeating...
Category
1980s Organic Modern Vintage Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Wood
A Ceremonial Mask
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A Superbly Carved Lime Spatula Representing Two Figures
Located in London, GB
A Superbly Carved Lime Spatula Representing Two Figures
Wood (ebony)
Northern (?) Massim, New Guinea
19th Century
Size: 31cm long - 12¼ ins long
Provenance:
Ex Anthony Meyer G...
Category
19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Ebony
Old Stone Axe With Carved Face, Pierced Nose, Papua New Guinea on custom Base
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Surrealist Carved Wood Vessel by Len Brown in the Form of a Hand Holding a Vase
Located in Round Top, TX
Surrealist carved Koa wood vase with a hand form "holding" the vessel. Early 20th century dada works by those such as Marcel Duchamp would have certainly found kinship in the concept...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Papua New Guinea Carved-Wood Lumi Shield on Custom Iron Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Papua New Guinea carved-wood Lumi shield from the mid-20th century. This vintage war shield from the West Sepik region, the northwestern most province of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Tall Slender Seated Wood Figure, Carribean Islands Mid 20th century Polynesia
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Tall slender seated wood figure with long slender legs clasped at chest, holding fruit by feet. Carribean Islands or French Polynesia, Mid 20th century
It is in good condition with ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Painting from a Kwoma Ceremonial House Ceiling
Located in Chicago, IL
A painting from a Kwoma ceremonial house ceiling depicting an abstract polychrome pattern on a sago palm spathe.
From the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
"...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Karaut 'Pectoral' Ornament, Abelam Culture, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
This piece is an excellent example of an adornment used by Abelam warriors to frighten their enemies. They are held in a warrior’s mouth for courage and to intimidate their adversary...
Category
Early 20th Century Other Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Natural Fiber
Stirrup Vessel Wood Hand- Carved Massim People Papua New Guinea
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wood Carved Stirrup Vessel, or Pipe, Massim people, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea.
Hand-carved wood in the form of a large animal with a top ci...
Category
Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Papua New Guinea Chambri Lakes Pottery Vessel, Mid 20th century
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful and fanciful Chambri Lake fired and pigmented pottery vessel with applied molded face design, mid 20th century Aibom village, Chambri Lake, Middle Sepik River region, Pa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Ironwood Root Carved War Club
Located in London, GB
Gunstock shaped war club ‘Sali’. Ironwood root carved with traditional motifs. An excellent example, mounted on a custom stand in patinated bronze.
Measure...
Category
1980s Vintage Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Iron
An Unusual Polynesian Fighting Club of Tapered ‘Pole’ Form
Located in London, GB
An Unusual Polynesian Fighting Club of Tapered ‘Pole’ Form
Decorated all over with a geometric design and ‘glyph’ type motifs
Dark glossy patina, excellent colour, retaining the or...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rockefeller Irivake Figure
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Abstract and anthropomorphic large figure from the Pie River, located to the east of the Era River. Abstract, anthropomorphic form stands on separate legs with dynamic varying outline, wide hips, and torso leading straight to a rounded head.
Figure represents Irivake, the ancestor hero who is considered as the founder of headhunting, also believed to have climbed to the sky and to command lightning. It is enlivened with various curvilinear details highlighted with red and white pigments. The back appears with a collection number in red, and the following: Ipigau (village), Upper Pie River, Papua, P63.20.
This is a 'later example', not a first generation piece with several age cracks. It has likely seen field use, but not extensive field use.
Provenance: Private New Jersey Collection, ex. Michael Rockefeller...
Category
Mid-20th Century Primitive Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Shell Plaque (Barava) from Solomon Islands, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
Objects crafted from the shell of the giant Tridacna clam, also known as the fossilized giant clam, held great value among numerous Melanesian peoples. The artistry of working with f...
Category
19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell
Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul
Located in Leuven, BE
Antique and exceptional drum of the Lower Sepik / Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea
A lovely patina and traces of use.
People : Iatmul?
Country Papua New Guinea
Length: 36 cm
Very good c...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Basketry Gable Mask from Papua New Guinea
Located in Highland, IN
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 ...
Category
1940s Tribal Vintage Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Cane, Rattan, Wood
A Finely Carved Lime Spatula by an Unknown Master Carver
Located in London, GB
A Finely Carved Lime Spatula by an Unknown Master Carver
Depicting a possibly unique Mother and Child (?) or Male and Female (?)
Wood ebony with lime infill
Massim Area, Papua New...
Category
19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Ebony
Antique spoon Lower Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Maprik Oceanic Art
Located in Leuven, BE
Antique and exceptional spoon of the Murik Lakes or Schouten Island , Mouth Of The Lower Sepik / Ramu Papua New Guinea
Available @ art Gallery Decoster Belgium
A lovely patina and t...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of Carved Wood Catfish Head Boat Prows on Custom Stands--New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of carved wood catfish head boat prows from Papua New Guinea. This pair of mid-20th century Papua New Guinean boat prows has been carved out of wood and features the head of a...
Category
20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Solomon Islands Coral Stone Ancestor's Carved Head
Located in Leuven , BE
The Tribes from the Solomon Islands worshipped the skulls of their ancestors as being the home of their spirits. If no remains of a great man were pres...
Category
1890s Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Coral
Antique drum Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic Art Iatmul
Located in Leuven, BE
Antique and exceptional drum of the Lower Sepik / Middle Sepik Papua New Guinea
A lovely patina and traces of use.
People : Iatmul?
Country Papua New Guinea
Length: 40 cm
Very good c...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique stirrer Lower Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Oceanic art Ramu
Located in Leuven, BE
Antique and exceptional stirrer of the Murik Lakes or Schouten Island , Mouth Of The Lower Sepik / Ramu Papua New Guinea Coastal Sepik region
A lovely patina and traces of use.
Lengt...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique spoon Lower Sepik Papua New Guinea Murik Lakes Ramu Maprik Oceanic Art
Located in Leuven, BE
Antique and exceptional spoon of the Murik Lakes or Schouten Island , Mouth Of The Lower Sepik / Ramu Papua New Guinea
Available @ art Gallery Decoster Belgium
A lovely patina and t...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pendant in Shell from Papua-New-Guinea
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Beautiful pendant made out of 3 different Shell species,
from Papua-New-Guinea from the 1960 ies,
the shells have a good and old patina and shine,
the pendant was used during ceremon...
Category
1960s Vintage Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell
Papua New Guinea Bridal Shell Money
Located in Schellebelle, BE
A very exceptional bridal money as well in shape as in dimensions.
Category
20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell
A male ceremonial armband made with bat-teeth
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Papua New Guinea, late 19th/early 20th century
Male ceremonial 'armband' made of bat teeth drilled and tied in a double row to a woven band of palm fibre.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber, Beads, Teeth
A Baimaru Kundu drum from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
New Guinea, Papua Gulf, probably Baimaru people, late 19th–early 20th century
H. 81.5 x Diam. 15 cm.
Provenance:
- Collected by German biologist and cinematographer Thomas Schulze-...
Category
Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood
Andreas Dettloff 2003 “My Polynesian Heart”
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Wonderful Sculpture by the noted German born Tahitian artist Andreas Dettloff. The sculpture is titled “My Polynesian Heart” and dated 2003. It, or an extremely similar one is depict...
Category
Early 2000s Pacific Islands Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Rubber, Paper
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