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:

51 items found:

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

Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 174 cm long

Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 174 cm long

Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 176 cm long

Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 176 cm long

A stunning Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace bearing fine…

A stunning Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace bearing fine large shell specimens strung on waxed cotton thread, 115 cm long

A Tasmanian Mariner shell bead necklace, 170 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace: 170cm of Coastal Elegance

A Tasmanian Mariner shell bead necklace, 170 cm long

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 80 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace, 80cm Long

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 80 cm long

A mariner shell bead necklace with pink stain, 164 cm long

Long Pink Stained Mariner Shell Bead Necklace

A mariner shell bead necklace with pink stain, 164 cm long

Mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin 180 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Bead Necklace - 180cm Length

Mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin 180 cm long

Tasmanian shell bead necklace, intricately threaded with…

Iridescent Tasmanian Shell Bead Necklace - 125cm Long

Tasmanian shell bead necklace, intricately threaded with iridescent shell specimens. A fine example. 125 cm long

Tasmanian shell necklace by Lola Greeno, comprising Marineer…

Tasmanian Shell Necklace by Lola Greeno

Tasmanian shell necklace by Lola Greeno, comprising Marineer shell and rice shell, by Lola Greeno (born 1946) of Flinders Island, c.1995, total length approx 84 cm. Provenance: Warwick Oakman Antiques, Richmond Tasmania 2022, original sales receipt…

Shell necklace, Tasmania. Shells strung on machine twisted…

Tasmanian Shell Necklace

Shell necklace, Tasmania. Shells strung on machine twisted thread, length 42 x 1 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Queensland

An impressive Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 175 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 175cm Long

An impressive Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 175 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 180 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Necklace: 180cm of Shell Beads

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 180 cm long

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Older (cotton…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer Shell Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Older (cotton strung) strand of creamy iridescent shells. Length 56 cm (doubled)

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Long, looped…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer Shell Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Long, looped strand of smaller shells, pearly green hue. Length 87 cm (doubled)

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Older four strand…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer Shell Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Older four strand with simple clasp, cotton strung. Silver/purple iridescent. Length 49 cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Single strand of…

Purple Marineer Shell Necklace, 30cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Single strand of iridised purple shells. Length 30 cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Choker style with…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer Shell Choker Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal Marineer shell necklace. Choker style with iridised pearl hue. Mid 20th century screw clasp. Length 49 cm

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 154 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 154cm

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 154 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th century, 75…

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace, Early 20th Century

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th century, 75 cm long

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 174 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 174cm Long

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 174 cm long

A mariner shell bead necklace with gold clasp, early 20th…

Mariner Shell Bead Necklace with Gold Clasp

A mariner shell bead necklace with gold clasp, early 20th century, 76 cm long

Aboriginal shell necklace. Shells painted with natural earth…

Aboriginal Earth-Painted Shell Necklace

Aboriginal shell necklace. Shells painted with natural earth pigments on a plant fibre string.

A large Aboriginal Coolamon with incised design, a digging…

Aboriginal Artifacts Collection

A large Aboriginal Coolamon with incised design, a digging stick with incised design, a snake carving and a shell necklace, length 78-50 cm

A Mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 20th century,…

Mariner Shell Bead Necklace from Tasmania

A Mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, 20th century, internally looped to be worn as a double strand. 160 cm long

A Tasmanian Aboriginal Mariner shell bead necklace, 132 cm long

Tasmanian Aboriginal Mariner Shell Bead Necklace

A Tasmanian Aboriginal Mariner shell bead necklace, 132 cm long

Two Tasmanian Marineer shell necklace, early 20th century,…

Tasmanian Indigenous Shell Necklaces: Green and Purple Tones

Two Tasmanian Marineer shell necklace, early 20th century, Indigenous, in tones of green and purple, (2)

Tasmanian Marineer shell necklace, early 20th century,…

Tasmanian Indigenous Shell Necklace, Early 20th Century

Tasmanian Marineer shell necklace, early 20th century, Indigenous, set with small shells, in tones of cream and brown, (2)

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace with triple strand and…

Tasmanian Shell Bead Necklace with Silver Clasp

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace with triple strand and silver clasp, 52 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 160 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 160cm

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 160 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell double strand necklace with gold…

Tasmanian Shell Necklace with Gold Clasp

A Tasmanian mariner shell double strand necklace with gold clasp, 50 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 20th century, 170 cm…

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 20th Century

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 20th century, 170 cm long

Aboriginal shell necklace & bracelet

Aboriginal Shell Jewelry Set

Aboriginal shell necklace & bracelet

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, early 20th…

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace, Early 20th Century

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin, early 20th century 166 cm long

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin 155 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Necklace - 155cm Length

A mariner shell bead necklace, Tasmanian origin 155 cm long

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace 175 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Shell Bead Necklace - 175cm

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace 175 cm long

Two Tasmanian Maireener shell necklaces, including four strand…

Tasmanian Maireener Shell Necklaces Set

Two Tasmanian Maireener shell necklaces, including four strand pink shell; and one single strand green shell. Length 46 cm (pink) and length 35 cm (green)

Tasmanian Aboriginal triple string Mariner shell necklace…

Opalescent Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal triple string Mariner shell necklace having a cream opalescent finish, comprising over five-hundred shells, length 88 cm

A Tasmanian mariner shell necklace, 164 cm long

Tasmanian Shell Necklace: 164 cm of Maritime Beauty

A Tasmanian mariner shell necklace, 164 cm long

Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell necklace, length 132 cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklace - 132cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell necklace, length 132 cm

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 166 cm long

Tasmanian Mariner Necklace: 166cm of Shell Beads

A Tasmanian mariner shell bead necklace, 166 cm long

Aboriginal marineer shell necklace. Length 66 cm

Aboriginal Shell Necklace - 66cm Length

Aboriginal marineer shell necklace. Length 66 cm

A Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Bead Necklace, 20th Century

A Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th century, 154 cm. Provenance: Collection of The Late Geoffrey Maxwell Worthington

A Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th…

Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Bead Necklace, Early 20th Century

A Tasmanian Aboriginal mariner shell bead necklace, early 20th century. 66 cm

Vintage Aboriginal delicate shell necklace approx 125 cm length.…

1940s Aboriginal Shell Necklace from Arnhem Land or Torres Strait

Vintage Aboriginal delicate shell necklace approx 125 cm length. Bought by relative in Darwin in 1940s. Thought to be from Arnhem Land or Torres Straight Islands

Vintage Aboriginal shell necklace approx 45 cm length. Bought…

Vintage Aboriginal Shell Necklace from 1940s Darwin

Vintage Aboriginal shell necklace approx 45 cm length. Bought by relative in Darwin in 1940s. Thought to be from Arnhem Land or Torres Straight Islands

Aboriginal mariner shell necklace

Aboriginal Shell Necklace: A Mariner's Treasure

Aboriginal mariner shell necklace

Aboriginal fine shell necklace

Shell Necklace: Aboriginal Fine Craft

Aboriginal fine shell necklace

Tasmanian antique Aboriginal shell necklace

Antique Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklace

Tasmanian antique Aboriginal shell necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklace

Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklace

Aboriginal shell necklace, Tas, 178 cm

Tasmanian Aboriginal Shell Necklace - 178cm

Aboriginal shell necklace, Tas, 178 cm

Maireener shell necklace. Length 75 cm

Maireener Shell Necklace - 75cm Length

Maireener shell necklace. Length 75 cm