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:

77 items found:

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

Aboriginal artists unknown. Two stone carved message boards,…

Unknown Aboriginal Stone Carvings from Central Australia

Aboriginal artists unknown. Two stone carved message boards, Central Australia one large, flat oval river stone of blue/grey colour, reddened and carved on both sides with groups of ovular and curved lines. Patina and wear from handling 45 x 20 x 1.5 cm.…

Aboriginal artist unknown. Arnhem land spear, early to…

Arnhem Land Spear with Stone Tip and Ochre Decorations

Aboriginal artist unknown. Arnhem land spear, early to Mid-1900s. Carved wood. 45 x 3 cm. With stone tip and bush string and resin haft. Spear tip retains part of bark casing. Painted ochre decorations. Collected by David Oldmeadow who was cameraman and…

Aboriginal artist unknown. Early edge ground stone axe circa…

Arnhem Land Stone Axe with Ochre Decorations and Stand

Aboriginal artist unknown. Early edge ground stone axe circa late 1800s, Arnhem land. Stone. 29 x 15 cm. Handle is one piece of wood bent over axe head, with spinifex resin haft, and bush twine to lash handle. Painted ochre decorations. With stand

Aboriginal stone axe head, Mossman Nth QLD. With Collectors…

Royal Gift: Aboriginal Stone Axe Head from Mossman, QLD

Aboriginal stone axe head, Mossman Nth QLD. With Collectors annotation axe found by King diamond, King of the Woora, presented to Queen Elizabeth 1953 by Son Alfie diamond, length 16 cm

19th century Australian Aboriginal hafted Stone|Axe, South…

Aboriginal Stone Axe with Oval Form, South Australia, 19th Century

19th century Australian Aboriginal hafted Stone|Axe, South Australia, with oval form stone and wood support, length 42 cm

No image available

Aboriginal artist unknown, 'Aboriginal Message Stone,' polished and worked river stone of blue/grey colour, reddened and carved on both sides with spirals and groups of straight and curved lines. Patina and wear from handling. Likely Central Australia. 24…

Central Australian Aboriginal stone axe heads, with ground…

Central Australian Aboriginal stone axe heads, with ground edges, the smaller with extant pencil cataloguing marks and paper label, length 10.5 cm and 13 cm (2)

Kimberley spear point, Kimberley Region, Western Australia.…

Kimberley Spear Point: Hunting and Ceremonial Artifact

Kimberley spear point, Kimberley Region, Western Australia. Pressure-flaked ceramic/porcelain. Kimberley points were primarily used as hunting implements, prestige items for exchange, and May also have been integrated into secret-sacred ceremonial…

Five early stone implements, Western New South Wales. Carved…

Early Stone Implements from Western NSW

Five early stone implements, Western New South Wales. Carved stone. Approx lengths 5 cm to 15 cm Provenance: Private Collection, Queensland.

Rare early stone Hafted axe, Gippsland, Victoria. Carved stone,…

Early Hafted Stone Axe from Gippsland, Victoria

Rare early stone Hafted axe, Gippsland, Victoria. Carved stone, bent wood and spinifex resin. This hafted stone axe head held in place with resin and the wooden handle is bent around the head and secured at the head with an interlaced band with vegetable…

A rare collection of Aboriginal stone implements, New South…

Aboriginal Stone Implements Collection from New South Wales

A rare collection of Aboriginal stone implements, New South Wales. Carved stone. Item identification and collection history inscribed on back of mounts, length 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales

Early spear thrower (woomera), Western Australia. Carved…

Western Australian Spear Thrower with Natural Pigments

Early spear thrower (woomera), Western Australia. Carved hardwood, spinifex resin and natural pigments. Decorated in red ochre, peg attached with kangaroo sinew, the handle of spinifex resin, with embedded stone cutting tool, length 81.5 x 7 cm.…

Early spear thrower (woomera), Central Australia, Northern…

Central Australian Spear Thrower

Early spear thrower (woomera), Central Australia, Northern Territory. Carved hardwood, spinifex resin and natural pigments. The gently curving form of concave section, decorated in red ochre, peg attached with kangaroo sinew, the handle of spinifex resin,…

Superb fine early incised spear thrower (woomera), Central…

Early Incised Spear Thrower from Central Australia

Superb fine early incised spear thrower (woomera), Central Australia, Northern Territory. Carved and engraved hardwood, spinifex resin and natural pigments. The gently curving form of concave section, superbly incised in churinga like designs both…

Spear thrower (woomera) a fine Central Australia carved woomera…

Carved Woomera with Stone Cutting Tool and Kangaroo Sinew Hook

Spear thrower (woomera) a fine Central Australia carved woomera resin handle with stone cutting tool on the handle. Kangaroo sinew holding hook 78 cm 78 cm

Three glass and 2 stone spearheads from the Kimberly. One…

Kimberley Spearheads: Glass, Stone, and Serrated

Three glass and 2 stone spearheads from the Kimberly. One spearhead is mounted. Serrated spearheads from the Kimberley Region of WA, probably from the 1930's.

Two glass and 3 stone spearheads from the Kimberly serrated…

Kimberley Spearheads: Glass and Stone, 1930s

Two glass and 3 stone spearheads from the Kimberly serrated spearheads from the Kimberley Region of WA, probably from the 1930's.

Stone hafted axe, Northern Territory, carved stone, bent wood,…

Northern Territory Stone Hafted Axe

Stone hafted axe, Northern Territory, carved stone, bent wood, spinifex resin and natural pigments (with custom stand) a hafted hatchet made with an edge ground stone axe head. It is secured with resin to a handle made from a single piece of wood bent…

Early large pole club, Lakes Entrance, Victoria, carved…

Stone-Scraped Hardwood Pole from Lakes Entrance, Victoria

Early large pole club, Lakes Entrance, Victoria, carved hardwood (with custom stand) of cylindrical section, finely stone scraped over the entire surface with old glossy patina. Length 101.5 x 3.5 cm. Provenance: Small & Whitfield, Adelaide, South…

Large hafted stone knife, Central Australia, Northern Territory,…

Spinifex Resin Hafted Stone Knife

Large hafted stone knife, Central Australia, Northern Territory, stone, spinifex resin and natural pigments (with custom stand) knife with blade made from fLaked quartzite. Handle made from spinifex resin and handle has been coated in red ochre. Length 24…

Rare hafted stone fighting pick, Central Australia, carved…

Hafted Stone Fighting Pick from Central Australia

Rare hafted stone fighting pick, Central Australia, carved stone, bent wood, spinifex resin and natural pigments (with custom stand) a hafted pick made with a stone head. It is secured with resin to a handle made from a single piece of wood bent around…

Aboriginal boomerang and nulla nulla. Boomerang with red ochre…

Aboriginal Boomerang and Nulla Nulla Set

Aboriginal boomerang and nulla nulla. Boomerang with red ochre finish length 82 cm; and a nulla nulla with stone worked grooves, good patina length 65 cm.

19th century Australian Aboriginal boomerang. With stone worked,…

Aboriginal Boomerang with Geometric Stone Decoration

19th century Australian Aboriginal boomerang. With stone worked, incised geometric decoration. Length 71 cm

Early 20th century hooked boomerang. With stone worked grooves…

Red Ochre Hooked Boomerang with Stone Grooves (9 words)

Early 20th century hooked boomerang. With stone worked grooves and red ochre finish. Length 83 cm

Seven spear points, stone, hand napped found, Central Australia,…

Central Australian Stone Spear Points, 1930s

Seven spear points, stone, hand napped found, Central Australia, 1930's

Early engraved horn-shape cylindro-conical (phallic) stone, New…

Engraved Stone Phallus from New South Wales

Early engraved horn-shape cylindro-conical (phallic) stone, New South Wales. Fine grained white, deeply incised (2 cm long) across 3 cm from tip, 2 parallel incisions from that incision to base, 10 short incisions perpendicular to length and concave base.…

Three stone spear points These spearpoints are showing hand…

Serrated Stone Spearpoints with Hand Napped Blades

Three stone spear points These spearpoints are showing hand napped blade and serrated edges.

Aboriginal Western Australian spear thrower. Flat spindle form…

Stone-etched Aboriginal spear thrower

Aboriginal Western Australian spear thrower. Flat spindle form with all over stone incisions and notching to one underside edge. Peg fixed with resin. Length 59 cm

19th century Aboriginal throwing club. Finely proportioned…

Aboriginal Stone-Striated Throwing Club

19th century Aboriginal throwing club. Finely proportioned bulbous spindle with stone worked linear striations, with a hatched pointed terminal. Age and use patina. Length 65 cm

Central Australian Aboriginal artefacts. Including two stone…

Aboriginal Artefacts: Stone Knives and Message Sticks

Central Australian Aboriginal artefacts. Including two stone knives, one with detailed label. Also two pyrographed message sticks. Length 19 cm (longest knife)

Kodja Aboriginal stone axe. the unique axe of south west…

Kodja Stone Axe from South West Australia

Kodja Aboriginal stone axe. the unique axe of south west Australia, now very rare, with two pieces of stone, one pointed & one blunt, embedded in grass tree resin together with a pointed stick handle, collected in 1877, previously owned by Lord McAlpine…

Hafted Aboriginal stone axe. with an ancient uniface pecked &…

Ancient Aboriginal Stone Axe with Modern Hafting

Hafted Aboriginal stone axe. with an ancient uniface pecked & polished stone & more modern 100-150 years old hafting, from Central Australia, previously owned by Lord McAlpine of West Green (1942-2014). Collection Dr John Raven, Perth. 37 x 21.5 cm

Milingimbi Eastern Arnhem land, stone headed hafted axe.…

Stone-headed axe from Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land

Milingimbi Eastern Arnhem land, stone headed hafted axe. Collected in 1877, by Samuel (Burnes?). Collection Dr John Raven, Perth.

Large West Australian Aboriginal shield. with stone incised…

Stone-Inscribed Aboriginal Shield

Large West Australian Aboriginal shield. with stone incised geometric decoration. Length 75 cm

Large stone axe, central Queensland. From the collection of R I…

Central QLD Stone Axe - 24cm Length

Large stone axe, central Queensland. From the collection of R I Perrott (1822-1895). Collection Dr John Raven, Perth. Length 24 cm

Edge ground stone axe. Mt Isa, Queensland. Diameter 10 cm.…

Mt Isa Edge Ground Stone Axe

Edge ground stone axe. Mt Isa, Queensland. Diameter 10 cm. Collection Dr John Raven, Perth.

Six hafted spearheads. All collected in 1890, two glass from…

1890 Hafted Spearhead Collection from Australia

Six hafted spearheads. All collected in 1890, two glass from Kimberley, WA; two porcelain from telegraph insulators from alligator river area of NT; one stone (quartzite) from Central Australia; & one metal shovel nose spear head (made from a horseshoe…

Two Aboriginal stone drinking mugs. One from Muloorina, SA,…

Aboriginal Stone Drinking Mugs from Muloorina and Hermannsburg

Two Aboriginal stone drinking mugs. One from Muloorina, SA, 48km N of Maree, Se of lake Eyre, the other, Hermannsburg, NT. Length 9 cm & 16 cm. Collection Dr John Raven, Perth.

Early Aboriginal stone carved and ochre shield, length 88 cm

Aboriginal Stone Shield: Carved and Ochre

Early Aboriginal stone carved and ochre shield, length 88 cm

19th century Aboriginal sword boomerang, Paroo river, with…

Aboriginal Sword Boomerang with Stone Cut Motif

19th century Aboriginal sword boomerang, Paroo river, with stone cut motif, and incised line decoration to the centre, length 76 cm. Provenance: Baldwin Spencer, then Adolf Albers/Bungan castle, then Davidsons Auctions, lot 1 2016, then private collection…

Quantity of aboriginal stone artefacts, most with place of…

Aboriginal Stone Artefacts with Origin Identification

Quantity of aboriginal stone artefacts, most with place of origin written on including 3 carved ceremonial stones (16 cm and 8.5 cm long), a ceremonial egg (boulia ) 10.5 cm and others

Five aboriginal carved stone artefacts, mostly with place of…

Aboriginal Carved Stone Artefacts with Place of Origin

Five aboriginal carved stone artefacts, mostly with place of origin written on comprising of a 'Kurdaitcha Shoes' (LAURA) 27.5 cm long, a rain stone (Laura) 20 cm, a ceremonial stone (Medlow Bath) 11.5 cm x 9.5 cm, an ochre grinder (Nth Aust) 10 cm x 8 cm…

Large Northern Queensland aboriginal stone axe, with origin NTH…

NTH QLD Aboriginal Stone Axe - Large Size

Large Northern Queensland aboriginal stone axe, with origin NTH QLD written on 27.5 cm x 15.5 cm

Two aboriginal stone axe heads / adzes, with origins written on…

Aboriginal Stone Axe Heads from Campbelltown and Wellington

Two aboriginal stone axe heads / adzes, with origins written on CAMPBELLTOWN and WELLINGTON, 9.5 cm x 7 cm and 9 cm x 7.5 cm

Two aboriginal stone axe heads / adzes, with origins written on…

Aboriginal Stone Axe Heads from Alice Springs and Mt. Isa

Two aboriginal stone axe heads / adzes, with origins written on ALICE SPRINGS and MT. ISA, 9.5 cm x 7.5 cm and 11 cm x 9.5 cm

Large aboriginal stone axe, with origin Ingham written on 18.5…

Ingham Aboriginal Stone Axe

Large aboriginal stone axe, with origin Ingham written on 18.5 cm x 13.5 cm

Antique aboriginal hardwood hunting boomerang, stone worked,…

Aboriginal Hardwood Hunting Boomerang with Stone Work, 68cm

Antique aboriginal hardwood hunting boomerang, stone worked, with parallel inscribed lines to one side, 68 cm wide

Large quantity of aboriginal stone artefacts, contained in a 4…

Aboriginal Stone Artefacts Collection in 4-Drawer Chest

Large quantity of aboriginal stone artefacts, contained in a 4 drawer chest (50.5 cm wide, 25.5 cm high), each drawer with 2 trays of artefacts, the vast majority with place of origin written on including Questa Park, Anna Bay, 1 Mile Beach, Murramurang,…

Quantity of aboriginal ceremonial stone artefacts, most with…

Aboriginal Ceremonial Stone Artefacts with Place of Origin

Quantity of aboriginal ceremonial stone artefacts, most with place of origin written, including Bourke 23 cm, Hungerford Qld 28 cm, Birdsville 19 cm and others

Good collection of aboriginal stone artefacts, the majority…

Aboriginal Stone Artefacts and Tools Collection

Good collection of aboriginal stone artefacts, the majority with name of origin written, including a knives 12 cm Alice Springs, 20.5 cm Petermann Ranges, 13 cm Burundie, a chisel, a hammer (Crosslands) and others, together with a Triodia Resin Cake and a…

An unusual Aboriginal stone axe with steel shaft, Austalia,…

Aboriginal Stone Axe with Steel Shaft and Horse Shoe Binding

An unusual Aboriginal stone axe with steel shaft, Austalia, hand wrought haft incorporating beaten horse shoe binding, possibly made by an Aboriginal (?) blacksmith, Boulia station, Queensland length 41 cm

An early north Queensland woomera, Australia probably stone…

North Queensland Stone Woomera with Spinifex Resin Binding

An early north Queensland woomera, Australia probably stone carved with peg attached by spinifex resin and store string binding, remnant binding to handle terminus length 74 cm

Fine & rare late 19th / early 20th century Spear-thrower. Stone…

Antique Spear-Thrower and Sword Club from Arnhem Land

Fine & rare late 19th / early 20th century Spear-thrower. Stone carved, & measuring 86 cm. Arnhem Land NT. Together with a rare port Essington sword club. Provenance: ex Charles Mountford, ex Jim Davidson collection Victoria, length 145 cm (sword club)

Two early stone cut boomerangs,19th century 52 cm and 47 cm long

19th Century Stone Cut Boomerangs - Two Sizes Available

Two early stone cut boomerangs,19th century 52 cm and 47 cm long

Aboriginal stone axe head from Halls Creek, NSW

Halls Creek Aboriginal Stone Axe Head

Aboriginal stone axe head from Halls Creek, NSW

A clay plaque and a small ornament by William Ricketts…

William Ricketts Aboriginal Clay Plaque and Ornament

A clay plaque and a small ornament by William Ricketts (1899-1993), the plaque featuring the face of an aboriginal youth in relief, and a tiny ornament with an attached tumbled veined ochre stone, depicting the face of an aboriginal elder; both with…

Two early carved Aboriginal boomerangs, stone carved, excellent…

Aboriginal Stone Boomerangs with Patina (2)

Two early carved Aboriginal boomerangs, stone carved, excellent patina, length 53c, 59 cm (2)

Two various ancient Aboriginal cylcons. Two ritual pieces…

Ancient Aboriginal Ritual Cylcons from Walgett Property

Two various ancient Aboriginal cylcons. Two ritual pieces fashioned from fine sedimentary stone. Collected over three generations of a farming family on a Walgett property.

A Throwing or Fighting Club, Lake Eyre district, with stone cut…

Stone Club with Linear Motif and Fire Evidence

A Throwing or Fighting Club, Lake Eyre district, with stone cut linear motif, end with evidence of fire tending, late 19th century, 78 cm

Aboriginal large cylcon (message stone). Long, straight…

Aboriginal Cyclone Message Stone

Aboriginal large cylcon (message stone). Long, straight tapering form with groups of incisions. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 42 cm

19th century Aboriginal boomerang. Asymetrical club form with…

Aboriginal Boomerang with Stone Striations

19th century Aboriginal boomerang. Asymetrical club form with stone worked striations and incised grip. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 63 cm

A Fighting Club (Murra Wirri) with stone tooled linear…

Stone-tooled Fighting Club from South Australia

A Fighting Club (Murra Wirri) with stone tooled linear decoration, South Australian origin typical of the Lake Eyre district, late 19th century, 97 cm. Provenance: Private Collection South Australia,

Mid 19th century Aboriginal Sydney sword. Stone worked curved…

Aboriginal Sydney Sword

Mid 19th century Aboriginal Sydney sword. Stone worked curved hardwood form with incised, flattened whorl above hand grip. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 77 cm

Two various ancient Aboriginal Cornute stones. Sedimentary…

Aboriginal Cornute Stones from Bungan Castle Museum

Two various ancient Aboriginal Cornute stones. Sedimentary ceremonial or marker stones probably from Western NSW or Qld. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 14 cm (each)

A collection of Aboriginal spears and artifacts from Groote…

Aboriginal Spear Collection from Groote Eylandt & Maningrida

A collection of Aboriginal spears and artifacts from Groote Eylandt & Maningrida including wood shovel nose spear, steel shovel nose spear, stone head, pointed wood killing spear, Woomera, kangaroo bone fishing spear, digging stick. Provenance: The Alex &…

An Aboriginal stone axe with old original binding and spinifex…

Aboriginal Stone Axe with Ceremonial Design

An Aboriginal stone axe with old original binding and spinifex resin mount painted with ceremonial design. Central Australia. Length 38 cm

Aboriginal Woomera - Spear Thrower with leaf-shaped flat…

Aboriginal Woomera with Leaf-Shaped Springboard and Carvings

Aboriginal Woomera - Spear Thrower with leaf-shaped flat springboard. Front entirely covered with linear grooved carving, using zigzag and parallel motif. Stone tooled finish. Rich brown patina. Height 55 cm. Width 17 cm

Jack Wherra carved boab nut plus carved nut & stone wanjina,…

Carved Boab Nut and Wanjina Stone by Jack Wherra

Jack Wherra carved boab nut plus carved nut & stone wanjina, Western Australia, 20th century. Wanjina 19.5 cm.

Two old boomerangs, left: an early stone carved hunting…

Antique Boomerangs from Lord McAlpine's Collection

Two old boomerangs, left: an early stone carved hunting boomerang, Western Australia, right : an early highly curved returning boomerang, made from hardwood, Southeast Australia, early 20th century. Provenance: Lord Alistair McAlpine (1942-2014); a…

Three early south East Australian boomerangs, 19th century;…

19th Century SE Australian Boomerangs from McAlpine Collection

Three early south East Australian boomerangs, 19th century; finely stone carved and in good condition. Provenance: Lord Alistair McAlpine (1942-2014); a British businessman, politician and author who was an advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he…

Aboriginal grinding stone. Dug in Bundjalung country (Kyogle),…

Bundjalung Aboriginal Grinding Stone

Aboriginal grinding stone. Dug in Bundjalung country (Kyogle), c.2000, by farmer burying his dog. Provenance: provided. Length 16 cm

Large ancient Aboriginal stone axe head, approx 38 cm long, 26…

Enormous Aboriginal Stone Axe Head

Large ancient Aboriginal stone axe head, approx 38 cm long, 26 cm

An exceptional club, South East Australia (early nineteenth…

Carved Hardwood Club from Early 19th Century Australia

An exceptional club, South East Australia (early nineteenth century), carved hardwood, 63 cm high. For a related example see: Robert Brough Smyth, The Aborigines of Victoria: with notes relating to the habits of the natives of other parts of Australia and…

A fine and rare club (bendi), Central Queensland (nineteenth…

Rare Central Queensland Carved Hardwood Club

A fine and rare club (bendi), Central Queensland (nineteenth century), carved hardwood. An exceptionally fine and rare form of club, (of which we have two in this sale); this example appears to be stone carved., 80.7 cm high. Provenance: Private…

An early parrying shield, South East Australia (early…

Early Parrying Shield from South East Australia

An early parrying shield, South East Australia (early nineteenth century), carved hardwood and natural pigments, 89.2 cm high. This fine and early example shows evidence of stone tooling and the intricate designs incised into the face of the shield have…

Aboriginal Wunda shield. Older stone worked shield with ochre…

Ancient Aboriginal Wunda Shield with Dog Leg Motif

Aboriginal Wunda shield. Older stone worked shield with ochre filled incised dog leg motif. Also carved verso. Old loss to one corner. 69 x 17 cm

Aboriginal stone worked shield. Ochre and incised decoration.…

Aboriginal Stone Shield with Ochre Decoration

Aboriginal stone worked shield. Ochre and incised decoration. Length 61 cm