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...

263 items found, 193-263 shown:

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

You can reduce the number of items displayed by entering a keyword that must be included in the description of the item.

OR

You can restrict the number of items to those sold in recent years. Select which years:

Papua New Guinea storyboard. Canoe and Crocodiles. Natural…

PNG Canoe and Crocodiles

Papua New Guinea storyboard. Canoe and Crocodiles. Natural ochres on wood 64 x 93 cm, irreg.

A Gopi board, carved wood with natural earth pigments, Papua…

Papua New Guinea Gopi Board with Natural Pigments

A Gopi board, carved wood with natural earth pigments, Papua New Guinea, 71 cm high

Papua New Guinea Sepik River ceremonial paddle. Long thin…

Sepik River Ceremonial Paddle

Papua New Guinea Sepik River ceremonial paddle. Long thin hooked blade with decorative carvings to root of blade. Mid 20th century. Ex Elizabeth Pryce collection. Length 144 cm

Buka Island ceremonial paddle. With low relief figural carving…

Ceremonial Paddle with Figural Carvings and Ochre Pigments

Buka Island ceremonial paddle. With low relief figural carving to blade. Decorated with red, white and black ochre pigments. Length 174 cm

New Guinea upper Sepik board. Kwoma culture Minja board. Age…

Kwoma Minja Board from Upper Sepik, New Guinea

New Guinea upper Sepik board. Kwoma culture Minja board. Age losses to bottom. Length 108 cm

New Guinea Asmat board. Carved polychrome board with age patina,…

Asmat Polychrome Carved Board

New Guinea Asmat board. Carved polychrome board with age patina, height 133 cm

New Guinea Asmat board. Shield carved integral handle with…

Asmat Board Shield with Carved Figure and Finial

New Guinea Asmat board. Shield carved integral handle with typical figure, decorated finial. Height 157 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

Papuan Gulf Gopi board. Older board anthropomorphic central…

Anthropomorphic Gopi Board from Papuan Gulf

Papuan Gulf Gopi board. Older board anthropomorphic central figure. Vestigial lime, losses and age patina. Height 110 cm

Early Papua New Guinea Asmat carving. Canoe form with relief…

Asmat Canoe Carving with Totemic Finial

Early Papua New Guinea Asmat carving. Canoe form with relief carved back, human and, bird totemic finial. Old lime and polychrome finish. Length 102 cm

Papuan Gulf figural board. Carved reserves with lime and ochre…

Papuan Gulf Figural Board: Lime and Ochre Carvings

Papuan Gulf figural board. Carved reserves with lime and ochre fill. Height 114 cm

Tribal arm band, neck ornament, gopi board and shark tooth club,…

Pacific Island Tribal Artifacts

Tribal arm band, neck ornament, gopi board and shark tooth club, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands, (4 items), the club 100 cm long

A Papua New Guinea red, white and black ceremonial board

Papua New Guinea Ceremonial Board

A Papua New Guinea red, white and black ceremonial board

Papua New Guinea Architectual story board on stand 142 cm x 20…

Architecture of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Architectual story board on stand 142 cm x 20 cm

A model canoe with bird atop a lone Sailor, Sentani lakes, West…

Bird Canoe with Sailor, West Papua

A model canoe with bird atop a lone Sailor, Sentani lakes, West Papua, incised design decorated with natural earth pigments, one wing of bird missing, length 73 cm

A profusely incised polychrome paddle, Sissano Lagoon, north…

Polychrome Paddle from Sissano Lagoon, Papua New Guinea

A profusely incised polychrome paddle, Sissano Lagoon, north coast Papua New Guinea, handle has been cut down for transport, length 74 cm

A crocodile canoe prow, Papua New Guinea. Carved from a single…

Crocodile Canoe Prow from Papua New Guinea

A crocodile canoe prow, Papua New Guinea. Carved from a single piece of wood, this crocodile head would have been fixed to the front of a canoe. Remains of the original blue pigment. Height 9.2 cm, length 54 cm, width 27.5 cm

An early mask, woven fibre board, feather, shell and clay with…

Sepik Mask with Feather and Shell Decoration

An early mask, woven fibre board, feather, shell and clay with earth pigment decoration, middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea, circa 1950, 38 cm high

Canoe bailer, canoe splash board, canoe bow and stern…

Massim Canoe Accessories: 4 Carved Wood Items

Canoe bailer, canoe splash board, canoe bow and stern attachments, carved wood, Massim Region, Papua New Guinea, mid 20th century, (4 items), the bailer 41 cm long

Gopi spirit board, carved wood, shell and fibre with remains of…

Papua New Guinea Carved Spirit Board

Gopi spirit board, carved wood, shell and fibre with remains of painted decoration, Papua New Guinea, 112 cm high

A pair of lower Sepik canoe boards, with carved and incised…

Butterfly canoe boards from Lower Sepik

A pair of lower Sepik canoe boards, with carved and incised butterfly decoration, 133 x 35 cm (each)

A hardwood carved, Papua New Guinea ceremonial paddle, used in…

PNG Independence Day Ceremonial Paddle with Carvings

A hardwood carved, Papua New Guinea ceremonial paddle, used in PNG Independence Day performances Sept 16, 1975, on stage with Prince Charles (Queen's representative) and Gough Whitlam (Australian PM), et al. With carved figure either side of the…

Late Ethonographic Dobu Island canoe Splashboard, the Massim…

Dobu Island Canoe Splashboard

Late Ethonographic Dobu Island canoe Splashboard, the Massim people 43 x 41 cm

Gopee board Papua Gulf 63 cm

Papua Gulf Gopee Board - 63cm

Gopee board Papua Gulf 63 cm

Papuan Gulf Gopee board 144 cm

Papuan Gulf Gopee Board - 144cm Length

Papuan Gulf Gopee board 144 cm

Papuan Gulf Gopee board, Papua New Guinea 64 cm

Papuan Gulf Gopee Board - 64cm

Papuan Gulf Gopee board, Papua New Guinea 64 cm

Gogadala board, Papua New Guinea white feather trimming 64 cm

Papua New Guinea Feather Board - 64cm

Gogadala board, Papua New Guinea white feather trimming 64 cm

Intricately carved Aitape canoe prow, Papua New Guinea A/F,…

Carved Aitape Canoe Prow from Papua New Guinea (Damaged)

Intricately carved Aitape canoe prow, Papua New Guinea A/F, damage to top edge 93 cm

Papua New Guinea Abelam board 85 cm

Abelam Board from Papua New Guinea (85 cm)

Papua New Guinea Abelam board 85 cm

Papua New Guinea Massim people dance paddle 71 cm

Massim Paddle Dance: Cultural Celebration in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Massim people dance paddle 71 cm

Paddle, Lake Sentani, West Papua. Carved and engraved hardwood…

Sentani Lake Paddle

Paddle, Lake Sentani, West Papua. Carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigments. A long boat's oar, carved from one piece of hard, light-coloured wood. With a long, flat, pointed paddle shovel, decorated on both sides with highly abstract geometric…

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and…

Gope Ancestral Board from Papua New Guinea

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and engraved wood and natural pigments, length 117.5 x 25 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and…

Gope Ancestral Board from Papua New Guinea

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and engraved wood and natural pigments, length 127.5 x 24 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and…

Gope Ancestral Board from Papua New Guinea

Gope ancestral board, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. Carved and engraved wood and natural pigments, length 130 x 24 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales

Massim canoe Splashboard (Lagim), Trobriand Islands, Papua New…

Trobriand Islands Canoe Splashboard

Massim canoe Splashboard (Lagim), Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. Carved and engraved wood and natural pigments. Wooden canoe prow splash board, intricately carved on one face, plain on other, splash board placed transversely across the prow behind…

Trobriand Islands grass skirt Making board with incised design,…

Trobriand Grass Skirt Making Board

Trobriand Islands grass skirt Making board with incised design, Massim Region, Papua New Guinea, a grass skirt Making board with incised design, Massim Region, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, old glossy patina. Provenance: Collection of a scholar who…

A paddle, Buka Islands, Solomon Islands. A decorative paddle…

Decorative Buka Islands Paddle

A paddle, Buka Islands, Solomon Islands. A decorative paddle for display. Paddles from Buka Islands are known for being highly decorated. I carved from a single piece of wood, this baddle has a long cylindrical shaft with a elongated leaf-shaped blade.…

A wood carved board, Papua New Guinea, depicting a figure with…

Hornbill Figure Wood Carving from Papua New Guinea

A wood carved board, Papua New Guinea, depicting a figure with surrounding hornbills. With open work detailing to the board. The carving is densely decorated with natural pigments in tones of brown, red, black, and white. Length 66 cm, width 36 cm

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

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

Anthropomorphic Ramu River House Board with Painted Relief

A large Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board, carved wood depicting an anthropomorphic figure in relief, painted with black, red and kaolin pigments. Collected in 1972. Some losses.

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board, flat wood board with…

Ramu River Anthropomorphic Board

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board, flat wood board with incised anthropomorphic figure, with painted kaolin and ochre pigments. Multiple piercings for suspension, 99 cm height

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

Ramu River Ancestral Spirit Face

A Papua New Guinea Ramu River house board, carved wood ancestral spirit face carved in high relief, with applied red, ochre, and kaolin pigments. Broken suspension hole, 126 cm height

Papua New Guinea, April river, Kupkein village, paddle finial,…

Paddle Finial with Incised Decoration from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, April river, Kupkein village, paddle finial, with incised decoration, set on stand, height 26 cm and 27 cm (including stand)

Papua New Guinea, Ramu River, canoe Mast Stanchion an old and…

Ramu River Canoe Mast Stanchion with Human Figure Peg

Papua New Guinea, Ramu River, canoe Mast Stanchion an old and used rigging stanchion from a small Ramu River outrigger canoe, main arm 38 cm, peg with human figure 25 cm, overall dimensions 58 cm x 31 cm, catalogue note: These Y-shaped stanchions were…

West Papua, Humboldt bay area, canoe prow ornament with incised…

Humboldt Bay Canoe Prow Ornament

West Papua, Humboldt bay area, canoe prow ornament with incised decoration and painted in tones of red and black, set on metal stand, length 61 cm

New Guinea, Humboldt bay, canoe prow, with face and bird and…

Blue and White Canoe Prow with Face and Bird

New Guinea, Humboldt bay, canoe prow, with face and bird and painted in tones of white and blue, height 30 cm and length 43 cm

Rare Papua New Guinea, Walomo village, canoe prow, c.1970s, of…

Papua New Guinea Canoe Prow of Friar Bird Form

Rare Papua New Guinea, Walomo village, canoe prow, c.1970s, of bird form, in tones of red, brown, yellow and white, set on a custom stand, height 31 cm and 43.5 cm (including stand), width 23 cm catalogue note: this is the full size prow piece of one of…

Rare Papua New Guinea, Walomo village, canoe prow, c.1970s, of…

Walomo Village Canoe Prow of Bird Form

Rare Papua New Guinea, Walomo village, canoe prow, c.1970s, of bird form, painted in tones of yellow, orange, black and white, a/f (chip to beak) length 46 cm and width 24 cm catalogue note: this is the full size prow piece of one of the elaborately…

Papua New Guinea canoe paddle, of long leaf form, with waisted…

Long Leaf Canoe Paddle from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea canoe paddle, of long leaf form, with waisted shaft and handle of spreading triangular form, length 154 cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik paddle finial, with carved and incised…

Sepik Paddle Finial with Carved Decoration on Stand

Papua New Guinea, Sepik paddle finial, with carved and incised decoration, set on stand, height 24 cm and 25 cm (including stand)

Papua New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, Kula trade, canoe wave…

Trobriand Kula Trade Canoe with Incised Decoration

Papua New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, Kula trade, canoe wave cutter, with incised decoration and painted in natural pigments of white, black and red, 68 cm x 32 cm

New Guinea, Asmat, canoe prow, carved with figures and birds,…

Asmat Canoe Prow with Carved Figures and Birds

New Guinea, Asmat, canoe prow, carved with figures and birds, length 83 cm

Papua New Guinea, Massim, canoe prow ornament, carved with bird,…

Massim Canoe Prow Ornament with Bird Carving

Papua New Guinea, Massim, canoe prow ornament, carved with bird, length 80 cm

Papua New Guinea, Blackwater lakes, canoe prow, length 56 cm

Papua's Blackwater Canoe Prow: Length 56cm

Papua New Guinea, Blackwater lakes, canoe prow, length 56 cm

West Papua, Geelvink bay, canoe prow, painted with red, white…

Geelvink Bay Canoe Prow: Red, White, and Yellow

West Papua, Geelvink bay, canoe prow, painted with red, white and yellow, a/f, length 154 cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik canoe prow, 170 cm x 46 cm x 30 cm

Sepik Canoe Prow from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, Sepik canoe prow, 170 cm x 46 cm x 30 cm

Papua New Guinea, Gogodala model canoe, a/f (head broken),…

Gogodala Model Canoe, 95 cm, A/F

Papua New Guinea, Gogodala model canoe, a/f (head broken), length 95 cm

A Papuan Gulf Gope board together with an Abelam mask, the…

Papuan Gulf Gope Board and Abelam Mask: Indigenous Artifacts

A Papuan Gulf Gope board together with an Abelam mask, the board 67 cm long, the mask 49 cm long

A ceremonial paddle, Trobriand Islands, 153 cm high

Trobriand Islands Ceremonial Paddle: 153 cm of Traditional Artistry

A ceremonial paddle, Trobriand Islands, 153 cm high

West Papua, Geelvink bay, canoe prow, a/f (loss of paint and…

West Papua, Geelvink bay, canoe prow, a/f (loss of paint and some chips to wood), length 69 cm

Papua New Guinea, gogodala, soft wood dance paddle in the form…

Papua New Guinea, gogodala, soft wood dance paddle in the form of a snake, decorated in natural pigments of brown, white and ochre, a/f (wear and chips to paint on paddle), 64 cm x 13 cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik, canoe prow, with carved animal head,…

Papua New Guinea, Sepik, canoe prow, with carved animal head, a/f (missing one shell eye), length 71 cm

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the large blade, height 179 cm

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, height 157 cm

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade and carved geometric pattern to the handle, height 179 cm

Papua New Guinea ancestor spirit board (gope), height 164 cm

Papua New Guinea Ancestor Spirit Board (Gope) - 164cm Height

Papua New Guinea ancestor spirit board (gope), height 164 cm

Papua New Guinea Tami Islands canoe splash board, height 134 cm

Papua New Guinea Tami Islands Canoe Splash Board, 134cm

Papua New Guinea Tami Islands canoe splash board, height 134 cm

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, stylized ancestor…

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment are displayed on one side of the blade. 162 cm length, collection of John Perkins

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment on both sides of the blade. Both the throat and grip are carved. 172 cm length, collection of John Perkins

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, ebonised with the…

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, ebonised with the blade displaying a stylized ancestor figure with a carved throat. 151 cm length, collection of John Perkins

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, stylized ancestor…

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment are displayed on one side of the blade. 193 cm length, collection of John Perkins