Aboriginal art and artefact collecting goes back to early first contact times. In fact local Aboriginals around Sydney use to trade artefacts with visiting ships from the earliest days.

Curio collecting has always been part of early exploration of the new world. Ceremonial adornment items that were made of perishable material were not preserved for future use and so early examples are very collectable. Early shields, clubs and boomerangs that were cherished as favourites and had developed a deep colour and patina are preferred.

Historical items that were collected by early notable pioneers, explorers or anthropologists are of high interest to collectors. Some areas are collected because the artistic expression makes them more appealing when displayed.

Production of artefacts has never ceased and are still made today for sale.

Some examples of collectable Aboriginal artefacts are:

56 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

19th century photograph 'Group of native Allies Roto Kakahi' 17…

19th century photograph 'Group of native Allies Roto Kakahi' 17 x 22.5 cm. Another 19th century photo on reverse 'Burial caves of the Tribes at Waiomeo, Now Tapu'. 21.5 x 28.5 cm.

The British Scientific Expedition On The Great Barrier Reef…

British Scientific Expedition on Great Barrier Reef (1928-29)

The British Scientific Expedition On The Great Barrier Reef 1928-29: Official original photographs by Charles Leslie Barrett (1879 - 1959: A collection of twenty-five original photographs, most with Barrett's notes affixed verso and several with the…

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal with spear and…

Aboriginal Warrior with Spear and Boomerangs

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal with spear and boomerangs, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18 x 13.5 cm

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal man with shield,…

Aboriginal Warrior with Shield

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal man with shield, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18.5 x 13.5 cm

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal boy with axe,…

Aboriginal Boy with Axe by J.W. Lindt

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal boy with axe, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18.5 x 13.5 cm

John William Lindt (1845-1926), seated Aboriginal with spear,…

Seated Aboriginal with Spear by J.W. Lindt

John William Lindt (1845-1926), seated Aboriginal with spear, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18.5 x 13.5 cm

John William Lindt (1845-1926). Two Aboriginals and hut,…

Aboriginals and Hut

John William Lindt (1845-1926). Two Aboriginals and hut, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18.5 x 13.5 cm

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal portrait, albumen…

Aboriginal Portrait by J.W. Lindt

John William Lindt (1845-1926), Aboriginal portrait, albumen print, embossed lower right: J W Lindt Grafton artist photographer, 18.5 x 14 cm

Photographer Unknown Lake Tyers Aboriginal Settlement, early…

Lake Tyers Aboriginal Settlement Lantern Slides, c.1905

Photographer Unknown Lake Tyers Aboriginal Settlement, early 20th century black and white lantern slides depicting Aboriginal women weaving baskets, Aboriginal boys fishing, Lake Tyers cottages, and a Portrait of 'Kitty' at the Lake Tyers Mission, c.1905…

King Johnny Aboriginal in European clothing, wearing a…

King Johnny in European Attire

King Johnny Aboriginal in European clothing, wearing a king-plate, circa 1880 carte-de-visite albumen paper print on unknown photographer's card, 10.5 x 6.5 cm.

Albumen print, (10 x 15 cm; lacking lower right corner) affixed…

Point McLeay Native Glee Club, Adelaide 1895

Albumen print, (10 x 15 cm; lacking lower right corner) affixed to card, with handwritten document affixed verso: 'The Point McLeay (Native) Glee Club, which sang in the Adelaide Town Hall at a meeting of the S.A. Natives Association, presided over by His…

1897 'West Australia' Photographs Album containing 35 albumen…

1897 West Australia Photographs Album

1897 'West Australia' Photographs Album containing 35 albumen prints (each 240 x 175 mm) of photographic montages individually mounted on thick gilt-edged, linen-hinged card pages, showing images of personalities, localities & industries throughout…

H.F. Dufty group of seven cartes-de-visite portrait photographs…

H.F. Dufty's Cartes-de-Visite Portraits from Fiji

H.F. Dufty group of seven cartes-de-visite portrait photographs including native Fijian, 19th century, reverses labelled 'F.H. Dufty Photographer Levuka, Fiji' and 'Photo by F.H. Dufty Victoria studio, Levuka, Fiji'

Anson Brothers (Hobart), portrait of an Aboriginal man and two…

Aboriginal Portrait by Anson Brothers of Hobart

Anson Brothers (Hobart), portrait of an Aboriginal man and two women, carte de visite albumen print mounted on a photographer's card, inscribed on the verso 'Natives of Tasmania', 10 x 6.2 cm

Portrait of an Aboriginal woman, carte de visite albumen print…

Aboriginal Woman, Carte de Visite

Portrait of an Aboriginal woman, carte de visite albumen print mounted on a photographer's card, 102 x 6.2 cm

Early 20th century diverse selection including real-photo of…

Assorted Early 20th Century Photographs

Early 20th century diverse selection including real-photo of two Aboriginal children, 'Railway Collision at Lara Nov 7th 06', 'Church of England Cathedral, Townsville', 'Giant tea camp, King parrot creek, also artist types, few shipping including. SS…

Arnhem land & Groote Eylandt: three small aboriginal…

Aboriginal Photographs from Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt

Arnhem land & Groote Eylandt: three small aboriginal photographs, annotated on reverse and dated Nov.-Dec.1944, also another unrelated (but earlier) pic. (4 items).

Early photo of native tiger, Tasmania, Tasmanian Thylacine, 11…

Early Photo of Tasmanian Thylacine Tiger

Early photo of native tiger, Tasmania, Tasmanian Thylacine, 11 cm high, 15.5 cm wide,

Photographer unknown: 103 x historical archive c.1950's…

Archive of 1950s NT Aboriginal Dances and Aircraft Images

Photographer unknown: 103 x historical archive c.1950's original photographs containing images of NT Aboriginal dances & corroboree's, aircraft images 2 x Rfd service aircraft?, Aboriginal camps, settlements, groups, etc. Locations include Kingoonya SA,…

Aborigines: Group of 11 black and white photographs, circa 1940s

Aborigines in the 1940s: A Photographic Journey

Aborigines: Group of 11 black and white photographs, circa 1940s

Foelsche, Paul Heinrich Matthias [1831-1914]. An album…

Foelsche's Album of Compelling Aboriginal Portraits

Foelsche, Paul Heinrich Matthias [1831-1914]. An album containing 48 photographs, each approx. 16.5 x 12 cm. The title page of the album with a stuck-down label dated July 1898 'To My Friend J. Scott Black With Kind Regards from Paul Foelsche' (the name…

Important collection of glass plate lantern slides with…

Rare Tasmanian Glass Plate Lantern Slide Collection

Important collection of glass plate lantern slides with accompanying hand written book of various slide programs. Collection features rare photographs of Tasmanian Aborigines at Bruny Island including portraits of Truganini and William Lanne, Tasmanian…

Opalotype hand touched photo, on milk glass, Aboriginal man,…

Aboriginal Man on Milk Glass, c1890

Opalotype hand touched photo, on milk glass, Aboriginal man, Northern NSW, c1890, 26 x 36 cm

Set of eleven photographs of Aborigines, after H.Staines taken…

Aboriginal Life: 11 Vintage Photographs

Set of eleven photographs of Aborigines, after H.Staines taken from the original glass negatives, some titled including 'North Queensland Native Police Trackers Capturing Murders', 'Native Police Coen', ' N.QLD Gin carrying Picaninny' and 'Native emu Hunt'

A collection of 19th century and later glass slides Concerning…

Glass Slides and Diary: Tasmania's Controversial Collection

A collection of 19th century and later glass slides Concerning Tasmania warning This lot contains pictures of deceased Aborigines accompanied by leather bound diary containing notes on the slides

Stereoviews: 'Last of the Aborigines of Tasmania' by S.…

Rare Tasmanian Aborigines Stereoview Collection with Viewer

Stereoviews: 'Last of the Aborigines of Tasmania' by S. Clifford, Hobart Town, very scarce, together with a selection of card of Tasmania and European scenes, (89 items plus stereoviewer)

Collection of albumen prints of the Methodist Mission at…

Trobriand Island Mission: Capturing Island Life 1905

Collection of albumen prints of the Methodist Mission at Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, circa 1905, many with captions offering a fascinating ethnographic insight to island life and culture with images of warriors, albino child, mission school, native life,…

H King & Co, Australian Aboriginals of NSW, three mounted…

Mounted Photographs of NSW Australian Aboriginals

H King & Co, Australian Aboriginals of NSW, three mounted photographs, 19.5 x 14.5 cm (each)

A collection of seven sepia prints, lithographs and photographs…

Aboriginal Portraits: A Collection of Seven Images

A collection of seven sepia prints, lithographs and photographs depicting Australian Aborigines, 20 x 15 cm (average size)

A collection of six photographs depicting Aboriginal family…

Aboriginal Family Portraits and Groups

A collection of six photographs depicting Aboriginal family groups and portraits, including images from Northern Australia, Murray River, Port Augusta and Inniminka, 19 x 15 cm (average size)

A collection of eight sepia prints, lithographs and photographs…

Aboriginal Portraits: Collection of Eight Sepia Prints

A collection of eight sepia prints, lithographs and photographs of Aborigines, including man with fire sticks, throwing stick, boomerang, portraits and family group, 18 x 14 cm (average size)

A collection of eight photographic slides by Henry King, South…

South Pacific Natives: A Photographic Collection by Henry King

A collection of eight photographic slides by Henry King, South Pacific Natives, Cermonial Native, Natives of New Guinea, Natives in Hut, Portrait, Native Hut New Guinea, Native with Basket, Climbing Palm Tonga, 8 x 8 cm (each). Provenance: Christies, New…

A collection of eighteen photographic and lithographic images…

Aboriginal Life: Through the Lens

A collection of eighteen photographic and lithographic images of Australian Aborigines depicting hunting, in family groups and ceremonies, 14 x 20 cm (average each)

A collection of six photographs of Australian Aboriginals, 16 x…

Australian Aboriginals Through the Lens

A collection of six photographs of Australian Aboriginals, 16 x 21 cm (average)

A collection ten photograph and lithographic images, depicting…

Indigenous Life in Australia: A Pictorial Collection

A collection ten photograph and lithographic images, depicting Australian Aboriginies and Indeigenous life, including Family Mia Mia, Native Encampment River Murray, Camp of Young Lubra, Kangaroo Hunting, King John's Mia Mia, Lubra and Pegeanini, Native…

A collection of nineteen photographic and lithographic images…

Aboriginal Life in 19 Images

A collection of nineteen photographic and lithographic images by Alphonse Chargois, G W Cole, Purnall and others, of Australian Aborigines depicting hunting, in family groups and ceremonies, 10 x 14.5 cm (average)

A collection of five photographs - Nicholas Caire and unknown…

Aboriginal Life in Photographs

A collection of five photographs - Nicholas Caire and unknown photographers, King Billy Maloga, Aboriginal Native Group, Aboriginals, Lake Tyers, Aborignal Ceremony, Aborignal Mother and Child, 14 x 19 cm (average each)

A collection of Aboriginal portraits, including Truganini,…

Aboriginal Portrait Collection

A collection of Aboriginal portraits, including Truganini, Queen Truganini, King Billy, an Aboriginal Chief and a family portrait, lithographic and sepia prints, 13 x 7.5 cm (average size)

A collection of nineteen photographic and lithographic images…

Melbourne and Victorian Scenery in 19 Images

A collection of nineteen photographic and lithographic images depicting scenes of Melbourne and its environs, portraiture, Victorian Aborigines and bush scenery, 15 x 19 cm (average each)

C.1888 lake Tyers Aboriginal group. 'Aboriginal Tribe',…

Lake Tyers Aboriginal Group, 1888 Photolithograph

C.1888 lake Tyers Aboriginal group. 'Aboriginal Tribe', Produced by Phillip - Stephan photo litho and Typographic process Co Ltd. Sydney, NSW. Photolithograph (2). 30 x 36 cm, (image)

Charles Bayliss - Photographer [1850-1897], A small group of…

Bayliss' Australian Photographs

Charles Bayliss - Photographer [1850-1897], A small group of albumen prints including 'Aborigines of New South Wales', 'Native Australians', 'Govett's Leap' and one other. (4 images).

Albumen paper prints of Hobarttown 1862 (3) plus one of Sydney…

1862 Australian Cityscape and Garden Party Albumen Prints

Albumen paper prints of Hobarttown 1862 (3) plus one of Sydney 1862 (A garden party at the family mansion, Woollahra House, built by Sir Daniel Cooper. Aboriginal servants in the background.)., 15.5 x 25 cm average

Batchelder and O'Neill photographers: Carte-de-VIsite…

William Landsborough and Aboriginal Trackers in Carte-de-Visite Photograph

Batchelder and O'Neill photographers: Carte-de-VIsite photograph depicting William Landsborough and two Aboriginal trackers, Jemmy and Jack Fisherman. circa 1862. Landsborough led a search for Burke and Wills after their disappearance.10 x 6.5 cm

Northern Territory: An album of 48 albumen photographs, circa…

Northern Territory: Albumen Photographs from 1880s

Northern Territory: An album of 48 albumen photographs, circa 1880s, titled in pencil below the image, subjects include Abraham's Billabong, Ironstone Camp Birdum Creek, Daly Waters Telegraph Station, Typical Chinese Hut, N. T., Daly Waters Telegraph…

Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), Charles Kerry Photographs of…

Charles Kerry's Photographs of Samoa and Tonga

Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), Charles Kerry Photographs of Samoa, Tonga, 52 albumen prints circa 1900 affixed in later album, subjects include Working a 4 in. Naval Gun, Malietoe Natives Drilling, Making Tappa Cloth, Lieutenant Gaunt's Squad, Street…

Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), Charles Kerry Photographs of…

Charles Kerry's Norfolk Island and Fiji Photographs

Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), Charles Kerry Photographs of Norfolk Island and Fiji, 52 albumen prints circa 1890 affixed in later album, subjects include The Old Jail Kingston(e), Cricket Ground, Norfolk Island, Bloody Bridge, Norfolk Island, Cutting…

Fred Kruger (1831-1888), Victoria, An album containing 60…

Fred Kruger's Victorian Album: Aboriginals, Landscapes, and Wrecks

Fred Kruger (1831-1888), Victoria, An album containing 60 albumen photographs with subjects including: Yarra Street Wharf Corio Bay, Geelong, Victorian Aboriginals and War Implements, Victorian Aboriginals and Canoe, New Lighthouse and Quarters, Dromana,…

An impressive album of photographs assembled for H.J.Younger in…

Melbourne & Surrounding Country: Lindt's 1890 Photograph Collection

An impressive album of photographs assembled for H.J.Younger in 1890. Titled 'Vol.1. Melbourne & the Surrounding Country' with 87 images of Melbourne, Fernshaw, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Sandhurst, Aborigines and several of Malta. 87 photographs, a…

Aboriginals: Two early photographs (1 probably by Kerry), each…

Early Photographs and Lantern Slides of Indigenous Peoples

Aboriginals: Two early photographs (1 probably by Kerry), each 20 x 15 cm; together with 8 lantern slides (square format) depicting Torres Strait and Pacific Island natives. (10 items).

Tasmanian Photographs, late 19th & early 20th century including…

Tasmanian & Queensland Historical Photographs

Tasmanian Photographs, late 19th & early 20th century including street scenes, Hobart, Bicheno, hydro-power pipe lines plus an unusual group (most likely Queensland) of 6 Aborigines & 10 whites. (17 items)

Native odalisque. An original albumen photograph showing a…

Native Odalisque: Western Pose

Native odalisque. An original albumen photograph showing a Western pose, 1890s. Albumen photograph. 15 x 25 cm

Group including early Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, World War I real…

Vintage Postcard Collection with Ida Rentoul Outhwaite & War Photos

Group including early Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, World War I real photographs, Australian & New Zealand, Aboriginal & Maori. Inspection will reward. 150+ cards

Aborigines: Noted; 1914 souvenir set of 6 in original envelope…

Aboriginal Souvenir Set with Kerry Photo & Fun in Camp

Aborigines: Noted; 1914 souvenir set of 6 in original envelope 'Trans-Australian Railways' (set #2); Kerry photo; 'Fun in the Camp, Lake Tyers' & others.(13 items)

Aboriginal carte de visite by S.Duesbury of Brisbane c1870;…

Aboriginal and Historical Portraits Collection

Aboriginal carte de visite by S.Duesbury of Brisbane c1870; carte de visite, 'One Thousand Portraits of Living & Historical Celebrities'; J. W. Lindt cabinet portrait of a gent; & a carte de visite portrait.(4 items)

Aborigines: desirable group of cards with photographs by Kerry…

Aboriginal Photograph Cards by Kerry & Co

Aborigines: desirable group of cards with photographs by Kerry & Co. (5); 'A Modern Aboriginal Camp' showing north Queensland warriors with shields; 'Old Sandy' last of the Kerang tribe; 'West Australian Blacks' etc. G/VG condition (15 items)

29 stereoscopic views of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands…

Island Views: 1904 Stereographs of New Zealand and Pacific

29 stereoscopic views of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands George Rose stereographs, circa 1904, views including Bowen Falls, Maggie Papakura and her sister Bella Tupou, Solomon Islands, Fijian native canoe