Papua New Guinean Furniture

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...

Sago peg, tapak, Abelam/Wosera people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea Sago pegs are used to secure a screen mesh during the preparation of sago flour. This example depicts a ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

This striking Yipwon sculpture is a powerful testament to the artistic and spiritual traditions of the Alamblak people from Papua New Guinea. The figure's strong, masculine head bala...

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...

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...

Early woven painted basketry yam mask from Papua New Guinea. Bug eyed or bird faced mask with heavy incrustation from many years of use, a striking mask that ...

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

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...

Antique Collectible Ethnic Tribal Folk Art Crescent Shell Pieces Choker Necklaces from Papua New Guinea. Shell pieces cut from the gold lipped pearl oyster found off the waters of Papua New Guinea. Their opalescent color ranges from deep gold yellow to pale yellow. Each is pierced at the crescent point for a cord attachment enabling the owner to wear them singly or together around the neck. One had a line of holes along the inner edge of the crescent as a decorative feature. Highly Collectible Museum Pieces, worn by men and women rare old Kina Shell Necklaces (Huge Mother of Pearl Crescent) Pectoral Collected from the Foi Tribe (Papua New Guinea), Circa 1920’s. From the Art collection of Marian and John Scott. Acquisition date: 1969. Evaluation date records: 1982. About: For the people of the Highlands, shells were considered treasures. As they were items that came from distant shores of Papua New Guinea they were already objects used for trade. The number one source of mother of pearl wealth was and is still is from the Thursday Island, one of the chain of Island that suggests the ancient land bridge across the Torres Straits from Cape York, Australia to New Guinea. They were fashioned into objects of adornment worn on costumes, hair, nose, etc. Of particular rarity was the gold lipped pearl shell. References: Plumes and Arrows, Inside New Guinea, COlin Simpson, Angus and RObertson, 1968. CATEGORY Anthropology: Ethnography. Tribal Kina Shell Pectoral Necklace, Pearl shell ornamentation (neck). Kina (shell money) Oject part of Pacific Cultures Collections. Purchased from the amazing private collection of Mark Lissauer who spent his life collecting niche ethnographic pieces. About Mark Lissauer: Mark Lissauer spent forty years travelling abroad for months at a time collecting ethnographic artefacts primarily from New Guinea and the islands of the West Pacific, and from Asia and Himalayan countries. Fluent in five languages and having in the course of business travelled to more than forty countries, Mark is well-known to museums and art-collectors around the world for his long career and his interesting and diverse collection of rare ethnographic material. Mark knows the origin and symbolism of each piece. Through extensive research and more than ninety trips around the globe, Mark familiarised himself with the traditions of the various cultures he visited in order to understand the meaning of each object to its region and tribe. His home has a specialist library and several rooms are filled with tribal carvings, textiles and ethnographica. He acquired his first tribal piece in 1948 during a business trip to Milne Bay, New Guinea, and has since documented the acquisition of some 35,000 items. Several thousands of these have been sold to important private collections and museums worldwide, including the Rockefeller Museum, the British Museum and the Musée National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, now incorporated into the Louvre Museum. Estimator certificate of authenticity by Wayne Heathcote Tribal Art Dealer and Expert. Heathcote has a flash gallery in Brussels, where much of the tribal art business is centred, and is an expert at Sotheby's tribal art sale...

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...

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 ...

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...

Standing Sepik River Area of Papua New Guinea, male stocky figure with hands on hips, and remains of red pigments Strong expression, with semi-circular ears, incised line scarificati...

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 ...

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...

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...

Probably Papua New Guinea, or Borneo, Dayak, late 19th/early 20th century H. approx. 12 cm (incl. stand, each) Provenance: Private collection, Flanders

A vintage carved wood crocodile head boat prow from Papua New Guinea. This mid-20th century Papua New Guinean boat prow has been carved out of wood and features the head of a crocodi...

This rare antique Kukukuku (pronounced "cookah-cookah") war club is from the remote Morobe Province located within the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The head is carved from...

This authentic tribal shaman’s medical bag, known as a Bilum bag, originates from Papua New Guinea and dates back to circa 1900. Traditionally used by shamans for carrying medicinal ...

"Coconut Shell Carved Ritual Cup – Iatmul People, Sepik River, Png" Antique Carved Coconut Shell Ritual Bowl – Iatmul People, Sepik River...

A Papua New Guinea yam festival mask of a horn-billed bird from the mid-20th century. This vintage ceremonial mask, also referred to as a baba mask, originates from the Abelam people...

Papua New Guinea, Central Highlands, Huli people, 1st half 20th century Crafted from the wearer’s own hair and adorned with colorful bird-of-paradise feathers, flowers, scarab beetl...

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...

An old and authentic votive board representing the spirit of water, Shamanic, Primitive Arts, Tribal Art, Brutalist, Shabby-Chic, in carved wood and painted with patina due to use, characteristic work of the creations of the Kwoma people , Washkuk Mountains, Upper Sepik region, Papua New Guinea, 1950. This votive board comes from the former collection of a French diplomat...

This rare antique Kukukuku (pronounced "cookah-cookah") war club originates from the Morobe Province, which is a very remote area located within the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Gu...

A well preserved Yam Ancestor mask professionally presented on a museum quality acrylic display stand. The mask was a classic tribal art piece from Abela...

Papua New Guinea standing male figure carved hardwood fragment, possibly from canoe? Back broken away and then cut and smoothed (probably by original baser) Based on period block of...

A pair of decoratively carved wood splash boards from the southeastern region of Papua, New Guinea, presented on custom stands. This pair of vintage tribal boards have been carved fr...

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...

Mid to late 20th century incised bamboo comb, Huon Gulf, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea This large incised comb is typical of the bamboo combs of the Huon Gulf area. This parti...

"Large Ceremonial Wooden Bowl – Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea" Large Ceremonial Wooden Bowl – Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea Late 19th – early 20th century Exceptional an...

A large decorative and rare hand carved tribal war shield in traditional colors, made in Papua New Guinea in the late 19th century. Functional as beautiful ...

A superbly executed carved and painted Crocodile Headrest from the Sepik region of Papua new Guinea The crocodile image finely carved in linear form with serrated tail with the cane Legs, the crocodile is revered and is a important part of the mythology of the Sepik region and features heavily in Sepik art...

Oceanic Schouten islands Pounder Papua New Guinea A Fine old hard wood Pounder or pestle with a standing female figure from the schouten islands off the north coast of Papua new Gui...

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 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...

Beautiful and unique ceremonial mask from the Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea made of wood, cowrie shells, feathers, clay, pigment and grass. Small parts are missing on the u...

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 very large and impressive 20th century Papua New guinea / Tami Island carved feast bowl. Carved in an almond shape with pointed ends, embellished with an anamorphic bat figure with...

A fantastic hand-carved primitive wood totem sculpture/ figure from the Sepik River people (Ambunti and Wewak) of Papua New Guinea. This work, which features tusked ancestral spirit ...

A fine, older Melanesian ebony wood carving. From the Trobriand Islands. In the form of a crouching tree kangaroo (black dorcopsis) with geometric...

Early Papua New Guinea abstract hook figure or mask with two opposing hooks, and central looped design, Sepik River area. Some chips missing to central loops. Small hole at top for s...

Yiman (Alamblak) People, Southern Hills, Middle Sepik River 42 x 10 x 2 in. / 107 x 25 x 5 cm The Yipwon are the patron spirits of hunting and warfare.

Papua New Guinea standing male ancestral figure. Hand carved from a single piece of wood. Beautiful old pigmented surface w/ finely decorated facial features and shell eyes. Good sig...

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...

mid-20th century Tami Islands Papua new guinea wooden feast bowl Of classic form, each end carved with raised and incised imagery depicting stylized sea cr...

Early Large Food Bowl, Tami Islands, Huon Gulf, Papua New Guinea This large food bowl exhibits a pleasing asymmetry in the raised relief carving of the t...

An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province, Papua, New Guinea, Kerewa or Hohao village tribe. Hand...

Small carved darkened wood bird faced mask with long nose/beak. Smaller squatting figure with curled arms carved on forehead. From Sepik River Area of Papua New Guinea. Signs of ...

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...

From Papua New Guinea an early painted Maprik carved wood head sculpture or mask, intense expression showing teeth, and two opposing stylize...

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...

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...