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:

72 items found:

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

Aboriginal Tiwi ceremonial Pukamani pole. Carved ironwood and…

Aboriginal Tiwi ceremonial Pukamani pole. Carved ironwood and natural earth pigments. Illustrated XXX, height 157 cm. Reference: Isaacs, J. Tiwi, Art, history, culture, p.220; a photograph of the Tiwa Pima saleroom c.1980s shows this pole in the…

Aboriginal artist unknown, an early ceremonial message board,…

Aboriginal artist unknown, an early ceremonial message board, circa late 19th century / early 20th century, hardwood with carved interlocking key patterns interposed with diagonal lines. With patina. 41 x 8 cm

Three Australian Aboriginal Tiwi ceremonial spears (Bathurst…

Tiwi Ceremonial Spears: Aboriginal Art from Northern Australia

Three Australian Aboriginal Tiwi ceremonial spears (Bathurst and Melville Island) mid 20th century carved and incised hardwood, length 256 cm, 283 cm, & 300 cm, other notes: Executed on the Bathurst or Melville Island, Northern Territory in the mid 20th…

Set of four spears from the Tiwi Islands a hardwood…

Set of four spears from the Tiwi Islands a hardwood shovel-nosed spear, a barbed ceremonial spear painted with earth pigments, a ceremonial two-pronged spear painted with pigments, and a single piece painted and fluted spear. The longest 254 cm. (4)

Didgeridoo, Aboriginal ceremonial instrument, decorated with…

Aboriginal Decorated Didgeridoo - 93 cm Length

Didgeridoo, Aboriginal ceremonial instrument, decorated with spears and turtles, with natural pigments, length 93 cm

Central Australian ceremonial boomerang, with white pigment…

Ceremonial Boomerang with White Pigment Decoration

Central Australian ceremonial boomerang, with white pigment decoration. Mid 20th century. With a custom stand. 74 cm

Ceremonial boomerang, decorated with pigment for ceremonial…

Ceremonial Boomerang with Indigenous Repair, Early 20th Century

Ceremonial boomerang, decorated with pigment for ceremonial purposes. A stable indigenous repair to the head. Early 20th century.

Rare ceremonial post (Walgaroo), Kimberley, Western Australia.…

Kimberley Walgaroo Ceremonial Post

Rare ceremonial post (Walgaroo), Kimberley, Western Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood, European paint and natural pigment. Walgaroo or ceremonial post is kept with a singing stick. Approx length 48.5 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Queensland.…

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved…

Central Australian Incised Boomerang

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigment. Approx length 56.5 x 8 cm. Provenance: Collected by Mr. Fred Cavenagh who was granted a pastoral lease to an area 100km Ne of Alice Springs in 1906,…

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…

Superb rare fishtail fighting club, Port Essington, Cobourg…

Rare Fishtail Fighting Club from Port Essington

Superb rare fishtail fighting club, Port Essington, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory. Carved hardwood, natural earth pigments and bush string. Cf. Davies, S., collected: 150 years of Aboriginal Art and artifacts at the Macleay Museum, the University…

Tiwi Island ceremonial spear, of elongated form, with painted…

Tiwi Island Painted Spear - 151 cm Length

Tiwi Island ceremonial spear, of elongated form, with painted decoration, in tones of white and brown, length 151 cm

Tiwi Island ceremonial spear, of long elongated form, with…

Tiwi Island Painted Ceremonial Spear

Tiwi Island ceremonial spear, of long elongated form, with painted decoration in tones of brown, white and black, a/f, length 152.5 cm

Rare fishtail fighting club, Port Essington, Cobourg Peninsula,…

Rare Fishtail Fighting Club from Port Essington, Northern Territory

Rare fishtail fighting club, Port Essington, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory. Carved hardwood and natural pigment. Cf. Davies, S., collected: 150 years of Aboriginal Art and artifacts at the Macleay Museum, the University of Sydney, Sydney 2002, p.…

Large Tiwi ceremonial dance wand, Tiwi group, Melville and…

Tiwi Dance Wand from Northern Territory

Large Tiwi ceremonial dance wand, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst Islands, Northern Territory. Carved and engraved wood with natural earth pigment (no custom stand), length 93 x 12 cm. Provenance: Executed on Bathurst or Melville Islands, Northern…

Rare Tiwi ceremonial dance club, Tiwi group, Melville and…

Tiwi Dance Club from Northern Territory

Rare Tiwi ceremonial dance club, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst Islands, Northern Territory. Carved and engraved hardwood with natural earth pigment, length 70.5 x 11 cm. Provenance: Executed on Bathurst or Melville Islands, Northern Territory…

Aboriginal painted ceremonial spear 135 cm

Aboriginal Ceremonial Spear - 135cm

Aboriginal painted ceremonial spear 135 cm

Arnhem land ceremonial boomerang a Kali with traditional ochre…

Ochre-marked Kali ceremonial boomerang from Arnhem Land

Arnhem land ceremonial boomerang a Kali with traditional ochre markings. 56 cm

A Central Desert dance paddle hardwood intricately carved in…

Intricate Carved Desert Dance Paddle with Spinifex Resin Handle

A Central Desert dance paddle hardwood intricately carved in traditional pattern front, smooth on back, spinifex resin on handle. 73 cm

Ceremonial Bardi shield, mid 20th century of classic hardwood…

Mid 20th Century Bardi Shield with Zig Zag Fluting

Ceremonial Bardi shield, mid 20th century of classic hardwood tapering to pointed terminals, incised with zig zag fluting, decorated with ochre, patina, 78 cm

Aboriginal ceremonial shield, mid 20th century Western…

Fluted Aboriginal Shield

Aboriginal ceremonial shield, mid 20th century Western Australian hardwood carved lineal fluting and detailed design front and rear. 73 cm

A La Grange ceremonial shield Western Australia Warburton area,…

Warburton Shield: Intricate Carvings and Natural Pigments

A La Grange ceremonial shield Western Australia Warburton area, hardwood smooth front with intricate carved interlocking design on the front. Natural ochre pigments 83 cm

A ceremonial hat with ostrich and lyre bird feathers, natural…

Mornington Island Hat and Wand

A ceremonial hat with ostrich and lyre bird feathers, natural hemp and natural ochres. Also a dance Wand. Both from Mornington Island. The hat is 39 cm

Large ceremonial boomerang, Mornington Island, Queensland,…

Mornington Island Ritual Boomerang

Large ceremonial boomerang, Mornington Island, Queensland, carved hardwood and natural pigments (with custom stand) used in ritual dance, rather than hunting. The white tips are typical Mornington Island motifs. Length 85.5 x 7 cm. Provenance: Lawsons…

Painted ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia, carved and…

Ceremonial Boomerang with Mythological Design

Painted ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia, carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigment (with custom stand) Typical Central Australian boomerang used in fighting or to provide musical accompaniment to singing by clapping a pair of them together.…

Tiwi ceremonial dance wand, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst…

Tiwi Dance Wand from Northern Territory, Australia

Tiwi ceremonial dance wand, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst Islands, Northern Territory, carved and engraved hardwood with natural earth pigment (no custom stand) length 99 x 13 cm. Provenance: Executed on Bathurst or Melville Islands, Northern…

Painted ceremonial shield, Desert North, Northern Territory,…

North Australian ceremonial shield

Painted ceremonial shield, Desert North, Northern Territory, Australia, carved beanwood and natural pigments (no custom stand) shield of softwood, grooved on both sides, handles flush, cut out of solid, decorated with red and white ochre design. Length 71…

Ceremonial shield, Western Australia, carved and engraved…

Carved Western Australian Shield with Natural Pigment Decoration

Ceremonial shield, Western Australia, carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigment (with custom stand) of elongated ovoid form, the front decorated with traditional motif designs, infilled with natural earth pigment, the reverse similarly decorated…

Large ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia, carved and…

Engraved ceremonial boomerang from Central Australia

Large ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia, carved and engraved hardwood, ceremonial boomerang, the front decorated with finely fluted design and circle motif, finely adzed on the reverse. Approx. length 90 cm

Incised ceremonial boomerang, Western Australia. Carved and…

Engraved Hardwood Boomerang from Western Australia

Incised ceremonial boomerang, Western Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales. Approx. length 84 x 7.5 cm

Rare ceremonial club, Western Australia. Club with an…

Rare Western Australian ceremonial club

Rare ceremonial club, Western Australia. Club with an elliptical shaped head and tapering to form an elongated handle. Plano-convex in cross section. The face decorated with an incised geometric pattern. Carved and engraved hardwood, natural pigments with…

Rare ceremonial club, Western Australia. Club with an…

Rare Australian ceremonial club with incised geometric pattern

Rare ceremonial club, Western Australia. Club with an elliptical shaped head and tapering to form an elongated handle. Plano-convex in cross section. The face decorated with an incised geometric pattern. Carved and engraved hardwood, natural pigments with…

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved…

Central Australian Incised Boomerang

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood. Provenance: Collected 1960's. Private Collection, New South Wales. Approx. length 77.7 x 6 cm

Incised fighting club, Northwest Australia. This is an unusual…

Fine Incised Fighting Club from Northwest Australia

Incised fighting club, Northwest Australia. This is an unusual specimen with a finely carved ceremonial pattern. Carved and engraved hardwood. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales. Cf. Fig 163, Aboriginal Australia Agdc. Approx. length 69 x 3.5…

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved…

Central Australian Incised Boomerang

Early incised ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigment. Provenance: Private Collection, Queensland. Approx. length 74 x 8 cm

Painted ceremonial shield, Northern Territory, Australia.…

Northern Territory Shield with Black and White Design

Painted ceremonial shield, Northern Territory, Australia. Shield of softwood, grooved on both sides, handles flush, cut out of solid, decorated with black and white design.Carved beanwood and natural pigments. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney.…

Rainforest cross boomerang, Queensland. A cross boomerang made…

Rainforest Cross Boomerang from Queensland

Rainforest cross boomerang, Queensland. A cross boomerang made of two elongated oval wooden sections of similar size set at right angles in center and secured with lawyer cane and resin. The surface is painted in the characteristic Queensland rainforest…

Two Tiwi ceremonial spears, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst…

Tiwi Ceremonial Spears from Northern Territory

Two Tiwi ceremonial spears, Tiwi group, Melville and Bathurst Islands, Northern Territory. Tiwi ceremonial spears are a special form of elaborately carved and painted spear used in ceremonial display rather than as functional weapons or implements. Carved…

Painted ceremonial shield, Desert North, Northern Territory,…

Bat Ancestor Shield

Painted ceremonial shield, Desert North, Northern Territory, Australia. Shield of softwood, grooved on both sides, handles flush, cut out of solid, decorated with black and white design depicting bat dreaming ancestor. Carved beanwood and natural pigments…

Fine incised ceremonial boomerang club, South Australia. Carved…

South Australian Boomerang Club

Fine incised ceremonial boomerang club, South Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood. Provenance: Dr Gerald Holt Collection. Lord McAlpine Collection. Private Collection, Sydney. Approx. length 82.5 x 7 cm

Aboriginal Western Desert shield. Old bean wood shield with…

Aboriginal Desert Shield with Incisions and Pigment

Aboriginal Western Desert shield. Old bean wood shield with ceremonial incisions. Remnants of pigment to face and crusted verso. Age and use patina. Length 56 cm

Arnhem land ceremonial boomerang. Losses to hatched and dotted…

Arnhem Land Totemic Boomerang

Arnhem land ceremonial boomerang. Losses to hatched and dotted totemic decoration. 76 cm

A contemporary Aboriginal hollow log coffin, Central Arnhem…

Contemporary Aboriginal Hollow Log Coffin

A contemporary Aboriginal hollow log coffin, Central Arnhem land, Australia, hollowed tree trunk, painted section between two undecorated ends with cross-hatching and line work designs in traditional colours: yellow, red, black and white. Each log coffin…

An Aboriginal morning star ceremonial pole, Elcho Island,…

Aboriginal Morning Star Ceremonial Pole from Elcho Island

An Aboriginal morning star ceremonial pole, Elcho Island, Northern Territory. Provenance: collected by the vendor from Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, 1998, height 206 cm

A ceremonial saw fish Rostrum, Northern Territory, Australia,…

Ochre-decorated Sawfish Rostrum from Arnhem Land, Australia

A ceremonial saw fish Rostrum, Northern Territory, Australia, decorated with ochre. Provenance: Collected on Elcho Island, Arnhem land in 1970s, length 54 cm

An Aboriginal morning star ceremonial pole, Elcho Island,…

Aboriginal Morning Star Ceremonial Pole from Elcho Island

An Aboriginal morning star ceremonial pole, Elcho Island, Northern Territory. Provenance: Collected by the vendor from Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, 1998, height 187 cm

An Aboriginal ceremonial spear and shield (i) Hardwood…

Aboriginal Spear and Shield Set

An Aboriginal ceremonial spear and shield (i) Hardwood ceremonial spear with carvings to the head of spear length 101 cm (ii) Hardwood shield with carved decoration to both sides length 95 cm; width: 25.5 cm

An early Tiwi painted ceremonial pole on base, total height 130…

Tiwi Painted Ceremonial Pole on Base (130cm)

An early Tiwi painted ceremonial pole on base, total height 130 cm

Arnhem land ceremonial sword club, string bound grip. Traces of…

Arnhem Land Sword Club with Ochre Decoration, 150cm

Arnhem land ceremonial sword club, string bound grip. Traces of original ochre decoration, small losses to hilt terminals, length 150 cm

Two ceremonial dance spears. Tiwi Islands. Carved hardwood with…

Tiwi Island Dance Spears

Two ceremonial dance spears. Tiwi Islands. Carved hardwood with ochre decoration & use patina. Shortened shafts, length 110 cm

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…

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

Early ceremonial dance woomera, WA. Stoneworked incised…

Stoneworked ceremonial dance woomera with incised decoration

Early ceremonial dance woomera, WA. Stoneworked incised decoration to one face. Small to edge, length 70 cm

Extremely rare ceremonial boomerang Central Australia. Covered…

Rare Central Australian Ceremonial Boomerang

Extremely rare ceremonial boomerang Central Australia. Covered with down & pigments, bush string connecting both ends. Ex Brokensha collection South Australia, length 51 cm

Tiwi Kwajakor dance hat. Mornington Peninsula, human hair,…

Tiwi Kwajakor Dance Hat

Tiwi Kwajakor dance hat. Mornington Peninsula, human hair, bamboo, ochres, cassowary feathers. David Said Collection, height 55 cm

Aboriginal fish tailed ceremonial club, probably Northern…

Northern Territory Aboriginal Fish-Tailed Ceremonial Club

Aboriginal fish tailed ceremonial club, probably Northern Territory with polychrome hatched decoration. Length 133 cm

An Aboriginal dance board, Papunya (N.T.) central deserts, 20th…

Aboriginal Dance Board with Carved Snakes

An Aboriginal dance board, Papunya (N.T.) central deserts, 20th century, carved softwood and painted finish, reverse decorated with painted carved snakes, 59 cm high

Ceremonial boomerang, kangaroo Dreaming 1975, old Mick…

Kangaroo Dreaming Boomerang

Ceremonial boomerang, kangaroo Dreaming 1975, old Mick Walankari Tjakamarra (c.1914-1996), Papunya, Western Desert, NT, Mulga wood and synthetic polymer, 66 cm. Provenance: painted during 1975 at Papunya, Western Desert, purchased at the Aboriginal and…

Early Aboriginal ceremonial club. Scored symbols to ducksbill…

Aboriginal ceremonial club with duckbill tip

Early Aboriginal ceremonial club. Scored symbols to ducksbill tip. Use patina & scored shaft. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection.

Early Aboriginal ceremonial sword club. Finely hatched and…

Aboriginal Sword Club with Incised Pattern

Early Aboriginal ceremonial sword club. Finely hatched and incised pattern to top. Flat underside has fine linear grooves. Losses to both tips, and hanging hole drilled to tip. Length 108

19th century Aboriginal ceremonial club. Banded ochre markings…

Aboriginal Ceremonial Club with Ochre Markings

19th century Aboriginal ceremonial club. Banded ochre markings with fibre and resin handgrip. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 101 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)

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

A pair of ceremonial spears, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory,…

Ochre-painted ceremonial spears from Groote Eylandt

A pair of ceremonial spears, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, collected 1960's; finely carved and ochre painted designs. 128 cm each

A ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia (1930s), natural…

Central Australian Ceremonial Boomerang

A ceremonial boomerang, Central Australia (1930s), natural earth pigments on carved wood. 73 cm

An early ceremonial hooked boomerang, Northern Territory (early…

Ceremonial Hooked Boomerang from Northern Territory

An early ceremonial hooked boomerang, Northern Territory (early 20th century), natural earth pigments on carved hardwood. 84 cm

Two Tiwi ceremonial spear tips 76 cm, 122 cm

Tiwi Spear Tips: Ceremonial Artifacts in Two Sizes

Two Tiwi ceremonial spear tips 76 cm, 122 cm

An Aboriginal ceremonial spear, Tiwi Islands, Northern…

Aboriginal Ceremonial Spear from Tiwi Islands, Northern Australia

An Aboriginal ceremonial spear, Tiwi Islands, Northern Australia 174 cm

Three fine ceremonial clubs, Bathurst or Melville Islands,…

Ironwood Ceremonial Clubs from Northern Territory

Three fine ceremonial clubs, Bathurst or Melville Islands, Northern Territory, (circa 1930), carved ironwood and natural earth pigments, 50.5 cm; 54 cm; 45.5 cm (3). Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

An important and rare ceremonial boomerang / club (lil-lil),…

Rare North Queensland ceremonial boomerang-club

An important and rare ceremonial boomerang / club (lil-lil), North Queensland (circa 1900), carved hardwood, 80.5 cm high. Provenance: Private Collection, Victoria, This extraordinary and large ceremonial boomerang-club is carved of hardwood with an…

Arnhem Land Burial post with four pointed projecting…

Arnhem Land Burial Post with Ceremonial Design

Arnhem Land Burial post with four pointed projecting protuberances, painted in ceremonial design. Provenance: Ex. Michael Leyland collection, this burial post was purchased 1968 from the Superintendent at the time of the Manninggerida Arnhem Land…