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Pacific Islands Folk Art

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Place of Origin: Pacific Islands
Sepik River (Keram Region), Papua New Guinea Ancestral Bust, mid 20th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Sepik River (Keram River tributary), Papua New Guinea Ancestral Bust (Male Ancestor Figure) Wood, with age cracks and dark matte patina Height: 24 cm, base diameter 10.5 cm Period: M...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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

20th Century Pacific Islander Samoan Fijian Hand Carved Wood Kava Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
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 ...
Category

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

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century
Located in Delft, NL
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...
Category

18th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Oceanic Ramu River Sepik Papua Crocodile headrest Tribal Art Interior Design
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood

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

Bis Pole Sculpture by Asmat People
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Mendi Compensation or Revenge Doll Loloata Tribal Art
Located in Lowestoft, GB
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Large Papua New Guinea Sepik River Mask Strong Face
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Wood and Shell Inlay Scoop, Solomon Islands
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th Century Wood and Shell Scoop, Solomon Islands A small scoop in the shape of a whale, with three rows of inlaid notched shell triangles and three circular shell eyes. Nice...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Wood

Vanuatu Fernwood Grade Ritual Figure, Ambrym Island
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vanuatu Fernwood Grade Ritual Figure, Ambrym Island. A sculpture carved from a solid section of the fibrous trunk of a tree fern composed of aerial roots surrounding a woody core, in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Organic Material

Monumental Papua New Guinea Spirit Figure, Mid-20th Century
Located in Wien, AT
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood, Feathers

Large Ceremonial Wooden Bowl – Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea
Located in Bilzen, BE
"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...
Category

19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Large Fijian Bowl On Four Feet – Fiji Islands, Melanesia – 19th / Early 20th C.
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Large Fijian Bowl On Four Feet – Fiji Islands, Melanesia – 19th / Early 20th Century" Impressive traditional wooden bowl from the Fiji Islands, carved from a single block of solid h...
Category

19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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

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

Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Abelam "Yam Festival" Mask on Stand from Papua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Papuan Gulf New Guinea Bioma Standing Red/White Figure Tod Barlin col
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Stirrup Vessel Wood Hand- Carved Massim People Papua New Guinea
Located in Moreno Valley, 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

Mid-20th Century Tribal Tapa Cloth, Fiji
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Tapa cloth made from mulberry fiber with natural pigments, Fiji, mid-20th century.
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal 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

Coral Sculpture, Vintage, Light Green Color, C 1970, Vintage Medium Size Coral
Located in New York, NY
Decorative coral sculpture. The coral is from the 1970s and has a beautiful light colored green shade. Medium size coral sculpture.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Coral

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

Oceanian Bamboo Mask with Long Hair from New Guinea
Located in Pasadena, CA
Ceremonial mask from the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, associated with the dance traditions of the Eastern Highlands. Crafted from wood, cowrie shells, clay, pigment, and p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Primitive Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Natural Fiber, Wood

Large Woven Painted Basketry Wall Mask Blackwater Rivers, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Large woven painted basketry wall mask created in Blackwater Rivers area, Papua New Guinea. With open expressive mouth and mask fringed with feathers, striking mask that easily hang...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Organic Material

Woven Painted Basketry Old Yam Mask with Sculptural Bird Face, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Organic Material

Late 19th-Early 20th White Bailer Shell Pectoral, Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Shell

Iatmul People "Mei" Mask Sepik River New Guinea
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and powerfully carved Ceremonial Mask from New Guinea. In mineral paints with Cowrie Shell Eyes. Collected in Kaminabit, Middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea. The Mei is t...
Category

20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

Fiber Polychrome Mask Yam Ancestor Papua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber, Acrylic

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

Pair of Massim Canoe Splash Boards from Papua, New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Single Yua Wenga Currency from the Early 20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single Yua Wenga currency from the early 20th century on custom iron stand. This antique tribal currency piece from Papua New Guinea has been carved ...
Category

Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Bone

A Rare Papua New Guinea Kukukuku Pineapple Stone War Club, Eastern Highlands
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Stone

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 Rare Papua New Guinea Kukukuku War Club, Eastern Highlands - Morobe Province
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Stone

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

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

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

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

Club, Kanak Bird Beak (kana), 19th Century, New Caledonia
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Club, Kanak Bird Beak (kana), 19th Century, New Caledonia" 19th-Century Kanak War Club (Kana) Origin: New Caledonia (Kanak People, Melanesia) Date: 19th century Material: Hardwood (...
Category

19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Old or Antique Trobriand Islands Carved Wooden Crouching Tree Kangaroo Figurine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, older Melanesian ebony wood carving. From the Trobriand Islands. In the form of a crouching tree kangaroo (black dorcopsis) with geometric...
Category

20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Samoan Bark Cloth (Siapo) with Geometric Motifs, Late 19th – Early 20th Century
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A striking and culturally rich Samoan bark cloth textile (siapo), dating to the late 19th to early 20th century CE. Measuring approximately 120 x 130 cm, this impressive work was cra...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

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

Small Papua New Guinea Sepik River Bird Mask Strong Face
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal 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

Coconut Shell Carved Ritual Cup – Iatmul People, Sepik River, Png
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Coconut Shell Carved Ritual Cup – Iatmul People, Sepik River, Png" Antique Carved Coconut Shell Ritual Bowl – Iatmul People, Sepik River...
Category

Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Coconut

Sepik River People Papua New Guinea Oceanic Primitive Wood Totem Spirit Figure
Located in Studio City, CA
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 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Solomon Islands Santa Cruz Hand Carved Conical Head "Duka" Figure, 1930s
Located in South Burlington, VT
Originally collected in the Solomon Islands in 1938, this one of a kind treasure from the south pacific comes from a private oceanic collection. This is a Solomon Islands Santa Cruz hand carved figure called a Duka, circa 1930s. It was carved in an extremely hard native wood and features a finely carved, unusual extended conical head, a handwoven loin cloth and turmeric encrustation. For your convenience, many of our photographs were taken in natural day light which accurately illuminate surface areas depicting original dark patina that you would expect from an important early carving such as this one. We will include a complimentary custom wood display base that you see photographed. Dimensions: 21.25 inches high Provenance: collected in l938 and originally acquired by a visiting French collecting tourist in the Solomon Islands then to dealer and Texas collector and to our private collection in year 2000 so could have been a specially crafted fine 1930s tourist sculpture piece for the visiting French tourist. History: Duka sculpture from Nendo Island, politically part of the Solomon Islands, is distinctive, and only a limited number of works have been documented. The conical extension at the back of the head represents a man's hairstyle. Called abe, its construction and shape was a symbol of wealth and high social status, and for older men, it also served the practical purpose of covering bald spots. All Nendo figure refer to deities or supernatural beings (Ellis: 2009, pp. 78-85) Auction sale: Bonhams Auctions April 28, 2015 sale. Exceptional Lime Container...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Tapestry, Wood

Oceanic Schouten islands Pounder Papua New Guinea Tribal Art
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

Early 20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood

Early 20th Century Abstract Tapa Headdress, Santa Cruz Island, Solomon Islands
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Tapa Headdress, Lepau, Santa Cruz Island, East Solomon Islands Paper mulberry tree inner bark, natural dye Late 19th to early 20th century 67.5 by 18 inches (171.4 by 45.7 cm) Ex pri...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

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

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

Mid-20th Century Tami Islands Papua New Guinea Tribal Wooden Feast Bowl
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Kaolin, 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 Tribal Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Stone

Large Oceanic Gope Carved Wooden Ancestor Spirit Board
Located in Forney, TX
An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province, Papua, New Guinea, Kerewa or Hohao village tribe. Hand...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Metal

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

Ancient Fiji Islands Flat Serving Bowl or Platter 19th century Polynesia
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Ancient Fiji Islands Flat Serving Bowl or Platter 19th century, made of very dense hardwood with deep patina, and expected wear on bottom. Two small opposing holes for suspension. B...
Category

Late 19th Century Tribal Antique Pacific Islands Folk Art

Materials

Wood

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