The collection of New Guinea tribal artifacts began in the late 19th century during the period of European colonialism and exploration of the region. Many early collectors were anthropologists, missionaries, or colonial administrators who were interested in documenting the diverse cultures and societies of the region.

The first known collector of New Guinea tribal artifacts was Sir William MacGregor, the Governor of British New Guinea from 1895 to 1898. MacGregor was an avid collector of artifacts and ethnographic objects, and he acquired a large collection of New Guinea tribal artifacts during his time in the region. He was followed by other collectors, including the American anthropologist Margaret Mead, who conducted extensive fieldwork in the region in the early 20th century and amassed a significant collection of artifacts.

During the early 20th century, many New Guinea tribal artifacts were acquired by museums and private collectors in Europe and North America. These more...

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Papua New Guinea mwai mask, faded red ochre finish, Sepik River…

Sepik River Bird Mwai Mask

Papua New Guinea mwai mask, faded red ochre finish, Sepik River bird motif, height 65 cm

Vintage Papua New Guinea child Sepik mask

Sepik Child Mask

Vintage Papua New Guinea child Sepik mask

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Carved small slit drum with…

PNG Bird Drum and Bone Mask

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Carved small slit drum with bird decoration; and mud mask on bone spike. Height 36 cm. (mask)

A Chambri lakes ancestral mask, Papua New Guinea, features in…

Chambri Lakes Ancestral Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Chambri lakes ancestral mask, Papua New Guinea, features in the publication the Garrick introduction to Sepik Art (1972) IV Gabel masks. Figure 15 75 cm

A Tapa Mask, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea (mid…

Tapa Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Tapa Mask, Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea (mid twentieth century), tapa cloth, natural earth pigments, coconut fibre and bark, 28 cm high

A Buka basket and three sepik ancestor Amulet masks (4) 11 cm,…

Buka Basket and Sepik Masks Set

A Buka basket and three sepik ancestor Amulet masks (4) 11 cm, 17 cm

A huon Gulf house mask Morobe. Province, New Guinea

Huon Gulf House Mask from New Guinea

A huon Gulf house mask Morobe. Province, New Guinea

Ancestral mask, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 58 cm

Sepik Ancestral Mask

Ancestral mask, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 58 cm

A Sepik mask with feathers, broken head piece, Height 60 cm

Broken Sepik Feather Mask

A Sepik mask with feathers, broken head piece, Height 60 cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik over-modelled turtle shell mask. Damages…

Sepik Turtle Shell Mask with Clay Overlay (Damaged)

Papua New Guinea Sepik over-modelled turtle shell mask. Damages to clay overlay. Height 28 cm. Provenance: Property of a retired diplomat, collected in the 1970s

A pair of Mwai masks. Iatmul people, Sepik river,Papua New…

Mwai Masks and Honey Sticks from Papua and Australia

A pair of Mwai masks. Iatmul people, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea together with two 'Honey sticks', Central Australia 80 & 84 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, natural black finish with…

Ancestral Seashell-Eyed Mask from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, natural black finish with Seashell eyes, height 64 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, Sepik River heavily carved…

Elongated Mouth Mask from Sepik River, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, Sepik River heavily carved with elongated Mouth, height 58 cm a/f missing shell

Papua New Guinea Gulf mask. Human form head on ancestor mask.…

Gulf Ancestor Mask with Shell Eyes

Papua New Guinea Gulf mask. Human form head on ancestor mask. Ebonised hardwood with shell eyes. Height 29 cm

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures. Crocodile totem & small…

PNG Carved Crocodile Totem & Spirit Mask

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures. Crocodile totem & small spirit mask. Height 35 cm (crocodile)

Papua New Guinea woven cane mask. Helmet form with topknot. Use…

Woven Cane Mask with Topknot from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea woven cane mask. Helmet form with topknot. Use patina. Height 42 cm

Papua New Guinea carved mask. Incised whorl patterns with shell…

Whorl-patterned Shell-eyed PNG Carved Mask (10 words)

Papua New Guinea carved mask. Incised whorl patterns with shell eyes. Length 72 cm

Papua New Guinea, Abelam Maprik mask, with traces of natural…

Abelam Maprik Mask with Natural Pigment Traces

Papua New Guinea, Abelam Maprik mask, with traces of natural pigment in tones of red, white and black, height 18 cm and width 8 cm

A gable mask, woven fibre with ochre, Blackwater river PNG.…

Ochre Gable Mask from Blackwater River, PNG

A gable mask, woven fibre with ochre, Blackwater river PNG. Provenance: The Dr George Soutter and Dr John Yu collection, length 55 cm

Two Papua New Guinea masks

Papua New Guinea Mask Duo

Two Papua New Guinea masks

Mwai mask, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 89 cm

Mwai Mask from Sepik River, PNG - 89 cm

Mwai mask, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 89 cm

Wooden mask wash Kuk Hills, Papua New Guinea, length 61.5 cm

Wooden Mask from Kuk Hills, Papua New Guinea

Wooden mask wash Kuk Hills, Papua New Guinea, length 61.5 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, monochrome with elongated chin,…

Monochrome Ancestral Mask with Elongated Chin from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, monochrome with elongated chin, height 65 cm

Two carvedPapua New Guinea tribal masks 79 cm high(tallest)

Papua New Guinea Tribal Masks - 79cm Tall

Two carvedPapua New Guinea tribal masks 79 cm high(tallest)

Four carvedPapua New Guinea tribal masks 36 cm high approx…

Papua New Guinea Tribal Masks Set

Four carvedPapua New Guinea tribal masks 36 cm high approx (tallest)

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Flute mask, Ramu Valley, Madang;…

Papua New Guinea Flute Mask and Spirit Figure

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Flute mask, Ramu Valley, Madang; standing male spirit figure, surmounted by bird, & with shell eyes. Wood, Ochre. Height 60 cm (figure)

Two Papua New Guinea spirit masks. Polochrome Sepik mask with…

Papua New Guinea Spirit Masks

Two Papua New Guinea spirit masks. Polochrome Sepik mask with lizards on chin (losses); & Abelam (?) mask. Length 75 cm (largest)

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Sepik spirit figure with…

Sepik Spirit Mask with Bird Overlay

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Sepik spirit figure with overlaid bird. Shell and ochre decorated. Length 56 cm

Papua New Guinea woven cane helmet. Yam mask style with ochre…

Yam Mask Cane Helmet with Feathered String

Papua New Guinea woven cane helmet. Yam mask style with ochre decoration and appended string of feathers. Height 50 cm

Sepik River carved basket hook figure, of figural form with…

Sepik River Carved Basket Hook Figure

Sepik River carved basket hook figure, of figural form with carved features and lower mask carved into hook, height 60 cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask woven with mosquito nose 53 cm

Sepik River Mosquito Nose Mask - 53cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask woven with mosquito nose 53 cm

A New Guinea ancestral mask, with inlaid shell and natural…

Sepik River Ancestral Mask with Shell Inlay and Ochre Decoration

A New Guinea ancestral mask, with inlaid shell and natural ochre decoration, woven tassles to ears, Tambanum village, Sepik river, PNG, 75 x 40 cm

Abelam yam mask, woven figure and natural earth pigments. Used…

Abelam Yam Mask: Fertility Symbol from Papua New Guinea

Abelam yam mask, woven figure and natural earth pigments. Used in the yam ceremony to promote the fertility of the crop. East Sepik Province,Papua New Guinea, W. 34 cm

A Papua New Guinea middle Sepik River mask, painted carved wood.…

Sepik River Gable Mask from Dame Gibbs Collection

A Papua New Guinea middle Sepik River mask, painted carved wood. Original label affixed to reverse: 'David Jones, gable mask, Palembai, Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection, 67 cm height

A Ramu River mask from the Madang Province, facial features…

Ramu River Cassowary Feather Mask

A Ramu River mask from the Madang Province, facial features carved in high relief and painted with umber and black pigments, framed with cassowary feathers. Metal hook with fiber binding for suspension, 81 cm height

A painted and carved mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East…

Abelam Mask from Papua New Guinea

A painted and carved mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 52 cm, width 16 cm

An Iatmul ancestral mask, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea,…

Iatmul Ancestral Mask from Papua New Guinea

An Iatmul ancestral mask, middle Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, height 62 cm

Sepik masks (2) over modelled mask and dagger with feathers and…

Sepik Mask and Dagger with Feathers and Shells

Sepik masks (2) over modelled mask and dagger with feathers and inlaid Cowrie shells, human hair, and woven fibre bases. Turtle shell, bone, natural pigments. Length 40 cm. Width 12 cm. Length 30 cm. Width 160 mm

Yam mask, finely woven fibre mask with painted yellow, black…

Sepik Yam Mask

Yam mask, finely woven fibre mask with painted yellow, black and red pigment designs. Sepik. Length 43 cm. Width 16 cm

Yam mask, finely woven mask with painted designs. Decorated…

Abelam Woven Yam Mask with Painted Designs

Yam mask, finely woven mask with painted designs. Decorated with fibre and black, red and white pigments. Abelam. Length 30 cm. Width 31 cm

A small New Guinea moulded clay and tortoise shell mask with…

New Guinea Clay and Shell Mask with Feather Decoration

A small New Guinea moulded clay and tortoise shell mask with courie shell eyes and border decorated with fibre twist and feathers. Height 17 cm. Width 12 cm

A middle Sepik naturalistic mask, Papua New Guinea. Of flat…

Sepik Naturalistic Mask with White Pigment and Carvings

A middle Sepik naturalistic mask, Papua New Guinea. Of flat ovoid form, naturalistic face in its center with domed forehead and tongue out, each facial feature highlighted with white pigment. Decorated with carved concentric circles and arrow-shaped…

A Papua New Guinea clay on raffia painted mask, decorated with…

Papua New Guinea Tribal Mask with Natural Decorations

A Papua New Guinea clay on raffia painted mask, decorated with boar tusk, cowrie shell, and cassowary feathers, 31 cm height

A Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, in carved wood with ochre…

PNG Ancestral Mask with Shells and Ochre Pigment

A Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, in carved wood with ochre pigment and inset shells. Length 53 cm, width 20 cm

A Papua New Guinea Ancetral mask, in carved wood with ochre…

Papua New Guinea Wood Mask with Shell Eyes

A Papua New Guinea Ancetral mask, in carved wood with ochre pigment, inset shell eyes. Length 52 cm, width 20 cm

Three various Papua New Guinea masks. Two hooked beak totemic…

Papua New Guinea Mask Trio

Three various Papua New Guinea masks. Two hooked beak totemic masks with incised ochre decoration; & small older ancestor mask with shell eyes. Height 44 cm 33 cm & 21 cm

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures and pot. Yendigum mask with…

Papua New Guinea Carvings and Pot

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures and pot. Yendigum mask with lime highlights; Kamanisit crouching female; and double faced Chambri Lakes pot (losses). Height 43 cm. (mask)

Papua New Guinea carved Totemic mask. Face with protruding…

Totemic Fish Mask with Protruding Tongue

Papua New Guinea carved Totemic mask. Face with protruding tongue; relief carved fish verso. Height 83 cm

Papua New Guinea carved Totemic figural board. Carved hardwood…

Totemic Figural Board with Linked Masks

Papua New Guinea carved Totemic figural board. Carved hardwood linked masks. Length 143 cm

Papua New Guinea wall mask. Length 75 cm

Papua New Guinea 75cm Wall Mask

Papua New Guinea wall mask. Length 75 cm

A Papua New Guinea mask and figure, a carved wood Ramu River…

Papua New Guinea Wood Carvings and Mask

A Papua New Guinea mask and figure, a carved wood Ramu River flute mask with painted black, red and Kaolin pigments, and a Romkun figure, 39 cm, 40 cm height

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board and mask, carved wood…

Ramu River House Board and Mask

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board and mask, carved wood figures from the Madang Province. Some losses. Collected in 1972, 80 cm, 75 cm height

Papua New Guinea middle Sepik mask with inlaid shell eyes 59 cm

Sepik Shell-Eyed Mask (59cm)

Papua New Guinea middle Sepik mask with inlaid shell eyes 59 cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask, yellow, orange, and brown…

Sepik River Mask: Yellow, Orange, and Brown

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask, yellow, orange, and brown tones 36 cm

Sepik River carved mask with shell eyes 1970s 41 cm

Sepik River Shell-Eyed Carved Mask (1970s)

Sepik River carved mask with shell eyes 1970s 41 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask. Sepik River carved softwood…

Sepik River Ancestral Mask

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask. Sepik River carved softwood with shell eyes. Length 115 cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik dance paddle. Small, carved mask form.…

Sepik Dance Paddle Mask: Carved Papua New Guinea Art

Papua New Guinea Sepik dance paddle. Small, carved mask form. Height 41 cm

A Sepik River ancestral mask, Iatmul people, East Sepik…

Iatmul Ancestral Mask with Cowrie Shells and Pigments

A Sepik River ancestral mask, Iatmul people, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, with wooden base decorated & cane surround, cowrie shells & natural earth pigments, on custom steel stand. Provenance: The Andrew Korda & Susan Pearson collection, height…

A Komongani village initiation mask, Sawos people, Sepik plains,…

Sawos Initiation Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Komongani village initiation mask, Sawos people, Sepik plains, Papua New Guinea, height 44 cm

A lower Sepik ancestral mask, Angoram Region, Papua New Guinea,…

Lower Sepik Ancestral Mask, Papua New Guinea

A lower Sepik ancestral mask, Angoram Region, Papua New Guinea, minor chips a/f, height 43 cm

A Sepik ancestral mask, Angoram Region, Papua New Guinea,…

Sepik Ancestral Mask with Insect Damage

A Sepik ancestral mask, Angoram Region, Papua New Guinea, insect damage to face a/f, height 51 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask. Carved wood with cane and…

Ancestral Mask with Feather and Cane Perimeter

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask. Carved wood with cane and feather woven perimeter. Longhouse patina, length 34 cm (mask without feathers)

Yangoru, Boiken Talipon Bride Price. Woven and painted cane…

Boiken Bride Price Mask

Yangoru, Boiken Talipon Bride Price. Woven and painted cane mask on a large conus shell segment. David Said Collection.

A collection of seven Sepik river area carvings, including…

Sepik River Carving Collection

A collection of seven Sepik river area carvings, including masks, a figure, a comb and a fine Kambot village story board, Ex Ruth collection Papua New Guinea 1970's, length 16 - 51 cm

Papua New Guinea carved and painted tribal art mask, approx 67…

Tribal Art Mask from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea carved and painted tribal art mask, approx 67 cm high

A double faced ancestral mask, Sepik river Region, Papua New…

Double-Faced Sepik River Ancestral Mask

A double faced ancestral mask, Sepik river Region, Papua New Guinea 84 cm

A Sepik ancestor mask 21 cm

Sepik Ancestor Mask - 21cm

A Sepik ancestor mask 21 cm

Two Ambrym masks. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 110 cm…

David Baker's Ambrym Mask Collection

Two Ambrym masks. Provenance: David Baker Collection. 110 cm each

A New Guinea Sepik River carved ancestral mask shield shaped,…

Sepik River Ancestral Mask with Bird Motifs

A New Guinea Sepik River carved ancestral mask shield shaped, ochre painted with bird motifs. Length 83 cm

Petit Papua New Guinea, Maprik, yam mask, length 15 cm

Maprik Yam Mask: Small but Mighty

Petit Papua New Guinea, Maprik, yam mask, length 15 cm

An ancestral mask, Biwat river, Sepik Region, East Sepik…

Sepik Ancestral Mask

An ancestral mask, Biwat river, Sepik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, a/f, height 45 cm, width 23 cm

P.N.G Sepik river turtle shell mask early clay mask on top of…

Sepik River Turtle Shell Mask with Feather Hair

P.N.G Sepik river turtle shell mask early clay mask on top of turtle shell with natural woven materials and bird feathers for hair, inlaid shells and in black, yellow white and red colours, length 25 cm

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, polychrome finish with shell…

Sepik River Spirit Mask with Shell Decorations

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, polychrome finish with shell decorations, Sepik River, height 90 cm a/f missing parts

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, polychrome finish Sepik River,…

Sepik River Polychrome Ancestral Mask (9 words)

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, polychrome finish Sepik River, height 73 cm

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, Sepik River polychrome finish,…

Sepik River Polychrome Spirit Mask with Shell Decorations

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, Sepik River polychrome finish, with grass beard and shell decorations, height 83 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, serrated Forehead with shell…

Serrated Ancestral Mask from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea ancestral mask, serrated Forehead with shell eyes and elongated Chin, height 65 cm

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, conical eyes with boar motif

Boar-Eyed Spirit Mask from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, conical eyes with boar motif

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River Mask

Ramu River Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River Mask

Three Papua New Guinea yam masks. Two woven cane, undecorated;…

Papua New Guinea Yam Masks

Three Papua New Guinea yam masks. Two woven cane, undecorated; plus double sided woven cane yam ceremony mask. Ochre & feather decoration to same. Height 25 cm (largest)

Papua New Guinea woven cane spirit mask. Ochred split cane with…

Ochred Cane Spirit Mask with Feather Trim

Papua New Guinea woven cane spirit mask. Ochred split cane with feather trim. Height 89 cm

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Elongated spirit mask with…

Elongated Spirit Mask with Shell and Tusk Decoration

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Elongated spirit mask with shell and tusk decoration. Height 70 cm

Sepik River Lower Murik Lakes mask 40 cm

Lower Murik Lakes Mask: 40cm Sepik River Treasure

Sepik River Lower Murik Lakes mask 40 cm

Carved Papua New Guinea mask with cassowary feather trim 49 cm

Papua New Guinea Cassowary Mask

Carved Papua New Guinea mask with cassowary feather trim 49 cm

Papua New Guinea ritual staff. With well carved crocodile,…

Papua New Guinea Ritual Staff with Crocodile and Masks

Papua New Guinea ritual staff. With well carved crocodile, human face and zoomorphic mask. Length 100 cm

An ancestor mask, Abelam, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea,…

Abelam Ancestor Mask from Papua New Guinea

An ancestor mask, Abelam, Maprik Region, Papua New Guinea, length 43 cm

Papua New Guinea spirit mask. Long oval ochre painted mask with…

Ochre Spirit Mask with Carved Bird

Papua New Guinea spirit mask. Long oval ochre painted mask with serrated top and carved bird under, length 104 cm

Wosera yam mask, woven cane decorated with natural ochres. East…

Wosera Yam Mask from Papua New Guinea

Wosera yam mask, woven cane decorated with natural ochres. East Sepik Province,Papua New Guinea, height 35 cm

Papua New Guinea tribal mask, approx 58 cm high, 39 cm wide

Papua New Guinea Tribal Mask - 58x39cm

Papua New Guinea tribal mask, approx 58 cm high, 39 cm wide

P.N.G bone mask Sepik river early clay mask on top of possible…

Sepik River Bone Mask with Feathered Hair

P.N.G bone mask Sepik river early clay mask on top of possible animal skull with natural woven materials and bird feathers for hair, inlaid shells and painted in black, white and brown colours, length 20 cm

A ceremonial shell inlaid mask, coastal Sepik River Region,…

A ceremonial shell inlaid mask, coastal Sepik River Region, Papua New Guinea, 70 cm high

A Ramu River mask and cassowary bone Dagger

Ramu Mask and Cassowary Dagger

A Ramu River mask and cassowary bone Dagger

A Baba mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province,…

Abelam Baba Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Baba mask, Abelam people, Maprik Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, height 30 cm, diameter 50 cm

A PNG small mask, fashioned from a turtle carapace and clay…

Turtle Carapace Mask Pendant with Shell Necklace

A PNG small mask, fashioned from a turtle carapace and clay inset with shells and with boar tusk pierced septum, suspended on a shell necklace, height 18 cm.

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, Sepik River polychrome finish,…

Sepik River Polychrome Spirit Mask with Grass Beard

Papua New Guinea spirit mask, Sepik River polychrome finish, with grass beard and shell decorations, height 90 cm

Papua New Guinea mwai mask, faded red ochre finish, Sepik River…

Sepik River Bird Motif Mwai Mask, 72cm Height

Papua New Guinea mwai mask, faded red ochre finish, Sepik River bird motif, height 72 cm

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask wall hanging with cassowary…

Sepik River Mask Wall Hanging with Cassowary Feathers

Papua New Guinea Sepik River mask wall hanging with cassowary feathers, 49 cm height