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:

22 items found:

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

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

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)

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…

Rare steel hafted axe, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, steel,…

Rare Steel Hafted Axe from Arnhem Land

Rare steel hafted axe, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, steel, bent wood, spinifex resin and natural pigments (with custom stand) this hafted metal head axe is painted with natural pigments. The head held in place with resin and the wooden handle is bent…

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 Aboriginal transitional axe, New South Wales. Carved and…

Aboriginal Transitional Axe with Engraved Hardwood and Metal Blade

Early Aboriginal transitional axe, New South Wales. Carved and engraved hardwood and European metal blade. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney. Approx. length 29.5 x 13 cm

Early 20th century Aboriginal hunting boomerang. Dense hardwood…

Aboriginal hunting boomerang, early 20th century

Early 20th century Aboriginal hunting boomerang. Dense hardwood utilitarian piece with axe and rasp marks evident. Length 64 cm

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 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.

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

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

Aboriginal stone axe head from Halls Creek, NSW

Halls Creek Aboriginal Stone Axe Head

Aboriginal stone axe head from Halls Creek, NSW

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

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