Archives: Art For Sale

Art For Sale

A Fine Old Abelam Woven Yam Mask Prince Alexander Mountains Area East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea

A Fine Old Abelam Woven Yam Mask from the Abelam People in the Prince Alexander Mountains Area of the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea

This finely woven & ochre-painted Mask was used in Yam Harvest ceremonies that are at the heart of the Abelam Culture. They are used solely to decorate large ceremonial Yams.

Lavishly adorned for the presentation ceremony, the finest long yams are essentially transformed into human images, decorated in the manner of men in full ceremonial regalia. The “heads” of the enormous tubers are adorned with specially made yam masks such as this one, which is made exclusively for yams and is never worn by humans.

One of the major focuses of ceremonial life among the Abelam people of northeast New Guinea is the competitive growth and exchange of long yams. The Abelam cultivate two distinct categories of yams—a small variety used as ordinary food and long yams, massive tubers that can be as much as twelve feet long. A man’s social status is determined largely by his success in growing long yams.

Each man has a permanent exchange partner to whom he ceremonially presents his largest yams following the annual harvest, later receiving those of his rival in return. Men who are consistently able to give their partners longer yams than they receive gain great prestige.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art

 

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Fine Japanese Vine Sculpture

A Fine Japanese Vine Sculpture

This beautiful sculpture is made from a tangled mass of vines that were encouraged together with this beautiful outcome.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic & Asian Art

 

Rare Magic Bone Abelam People East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea 19th C

This very old magic bone is from the Abelam People in the East Sepik Provenance of Papua New Guinea.  The deeply incised designs around the entire outside of the bone tube. Warm rich patina from handling.  Dating from the late 19th Century

Provenance: Collected by Anthony Forge (1929-1991)  Professor of Anthropology in the Faculties at ANU Canberra in the 1970s. He did extensive research in the Sepik River area in the 1960’s-70s.

 

 

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Pair of Finely Painted Ceremonial Boomerangs from Central Australia

A Pair of Finely Painted Ceremonial Boomerangs from Central Australia

This pair of finely carved and painted Boomerangs from Central Australia. Boomerangs like these are used for hunting animals and can be thrown with great precision,  they can also be used as dance wands during important ceremonies. You can find old photos of traditional ceremonies in Central Australia that men are holding painted boomerangs like these.  Boomerangs have their own mythology of how they were given from Ancestral Beings who taught men how to make them and hunt with them. Dating from the mid-20th Century,\.

Provenance : The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Australian Indigenous Art

A Fine Old New Guinea Arm Guard Marind Anim People West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

A Fine Old New Guinea Arm Guard Marind Anim People West Papua Irian Jaya Indonesia

This superb large and finely woven rattan Bowman’s Armguard is from the Marind Anima Tribe on the South Coast of West Papua, Irian Jaya Indonesia

This kept an archer’s forearm from getting cut if the bowstring broke which could cut an artery and cause death. Dating from the 19th Century.  I field-collected this fine arm guard in Kuper Village from Gabriel Mahuze, it belonged to his grandfather.

The Marind Amim People I spent a lot of time with the years 1986- 1987, I made over 30 trips to this area of West Papua and was very privileged to be able to see the amazing traditional Dema performances that were seen for the first time since the beginning of the early 20th Century.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art 

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in 1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.  I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com  where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

INQUIRE HERE

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

A Superb Old New Guinea Mask Lower Sepik River Area East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea

A Superb Old New Guinea Mask Lower Sepik River Area East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea This old and well-used Mask dates from the early 20th Century

Powerful Brag masks like this example were only danced on rare occasions, including the initiation of young males and at times of scarce food and other village hardships. Each individual mask was known by a unique name and was danced by an initiated male concealed in a plant fiber costume covering the whole body of the dancer. The dancer becomes the powerful spirit for the time it is being danced. This finely carved mask with layers of ochre-painted decoration has left an encrusted patina from decades of use.  The nose is carved to represent the concentric shell nose decorations that were worn by men in the 19th Century.  The back of the mask shows the real age & use of traditional tools like a shell rasp.

In the Sepik River area people’s ceremonial & spiritual life revolves around masks, usually, dance masks worn by a select person but also large masks for the gables or windows of the monumental Ceremonial Haus Tambaran or Men’s Ceremonial House where all the important rituals & initiations take place and where scared objects like masks are stored and venerated.

Provenance: Old Collection Australia The Todd Barlin Collection of New GUinea Oceanic Art

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums & Art Gallery Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

 

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us 

 

A Fine Early Wood & Lacquer Buddha from Shan State Burma 18th Century

This superb old Buddha Figure is from the Shan State in Burma. Carved from a single large piece of teak wood and covered in traditional lacquer with traces of gold leaf.

This beautiful Buddha is dressed in relatively simple monastic robes, defying his princely status. He sits cross-legged on an ornate platform, in bhumisparshamudra – his left-hand rests, palm upward, on his lap, and the right-hand rests over his right knee, calling the earth to witness.  The Buddha with characteristic Shan traits including a triangular face delineated with a broad forehead, eyebrows that arch high over his narrowly opened eyes, a pointed nose, pursed thin lips, large and elongated ears, and a short neck. His hair coiffed in a lovely ushnisha is topped by a pointed crown. Shan Buddhas, like this example, are often seated in Vajrasana pose with hands in Bhumisparsha or calling the earth to witness Mudra, his left hand on the lap with palm upright and his right hand touching the earth. This Mudra symbolizes the moment of Buddha’s enlightenment. According to legend, Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) was attacked by a demon Mara with legions of frightful monsters. They intended to scare Siddhartha away from the sacred Bodhi tree. However, Siddhartha would not move. Mara then dared to claim Siddhartha’s seat of enlightenment for himself, claiming that his spiritual deeds were more significant than Siddhartha’s. Mara’s monsters cried out, “I am his witness!” and Mara looked at Siddhartha and challenged, “Who will speak for you?” Siddhartha’s replied without words, instead, he reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth boldly pronounced, “I bear you witness!”

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Buddhist Art

Exhibited: The Art of Compassion: Buddhist Art from the Todd Barlin Collection 2018

 

 

Stone Buddha Shan State Burma 18th Century

This superb old Buddha Figure is from  the Shan State in Burma.  Carved from a single piece white marble like stone.

This beautiful Buddha is dressed in relatively simple monastic robes, defying his princely status. He sits cross-legged on an ornate platform, in bhumisparshamudra – his left hand rests, palm upward, on his lap, and the right hand rests over his right knee, calling the earth to witness.  The Buddha with characteristic Shan traits including a triangular face delineated with a broad forehead, eyebrows that arch high over his narrowly opened eyes, a pointed nose, pursed thin lips, large and elongated ears, and a short neck. His hair coiffed in a lovely ushnisha is topped by a pointed crown. Shan Buddhas, like this example, are often seated in Vajrasana pose with hands in Bhumisparsha or calling the earth to witness Mudra, his left hand on lap with palm upright and his right hand touching the earth. This Mudra symbolises the moment of Buddha’s enlightenment. According to legend, Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) was attacked by a demon Mara with legions of frightful monsters. They intended to scare Siddhartha away from the sacred Bodhi tree. However, Siddhartha would not move. Mara then dared to claim Siddhartha’s seat of enlightenment for himself, claiming that his spiritual deeds were more significant than Siddhartha’s. Mara’s monsters cried out, “I am his witness!” and Mara looked at Siddhartha and challenged, “Who will speak for you?” Siddhartha’s replied without words. Instead he reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth boldly pronounced, “I bear you witness!”

Old Kina Necklace Mendi Valley Southern Highlands Papua New Guinea

This beautiful old Shell Pectoral Ornament called Kina is from the Mendi Valley area of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.  This shell ornament is made from the Gold Lip Pearl Shell or Pinctada Maximums and  is covered in red ochre. Shells in general were highly valued as traditional wealth by the people in the interior of New Guinea where they had to travel through trading from the coast where they were collected to hundreds of kilometres through some of the most rugged terrain on the planet. These were used as an ornament during traditional ceremonies as in the photo of the man wearing one in my photos but they were also used as a traditional currency and often used as bridal dowries paid by a young mans family.  This old example you can see the wear on the holes where it was hung by the rope around the neck and the warm patina from wearing and handling over many years and probably generations. When I first went to the Mendi Valley area of Southern Highlands in 1985 these shells seemed reasonably plentiful but by 1988 people in the villages said they were now harder to find and more expensive.  This old shell comes in the original bark wallet that these heirlooms are stored in.  Some of these date from the 19th to early 20th Century

I bought this Kina Necklace in the Mendi Valley in 1985.  I still have a few other old examples for sale and even some on custom made stands so they can sit on a table or shelf to dramatic effect, please ask.

 

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.

Mask Helmet Abelam People East Sepik Papua New Guinea

See more Fine Masks in Masks Gallery

 

Wood Masks worn on the head area are extremely rare with the Abelam people who live in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. The Abelam are best known for their woven masks call Baba Tagwa.  The Abelam and neighbouring peoples of the Prince Alexander Mountains in the Sepik region of northeast New Guinea create several types of basketry masks. They include the type known in the Abelam language as baba tagwa, which is worn over the head like a helmet, as well as the yam masks used to decorate the gigantic long yams grown and exchanged competitively by Abelam men. Among the Abelam, baba tagwa masks are associated with the male initiation cycle, in which they are worn by men clad in shaggy costumes made from strips of leaves. During certain ceremonies, these imposing masked figures serve as guards. Brandishing lengths of bamboo or other weapons, the baba tagwa drive off women, children, and uninitiated men, who are not permitted to witness the secret initiation rites.  This mask dates from the 1940s-1950s.

Provenance : Important Australian Collection

 

If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.