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:

60 items found:

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

Western Australian bullroarer. Late 19th/early 20th century…

Western Australian bullroarer. Late 19th/early 20th century with red ochre infill. Beautiful patina. Length 31 cm

Undecorated Didjeridoo, early 20th century, with traces of red…

Red Ochre Didjeridoo

Undecorated Didjeridoo, early 20th century, with traces of red ochre. 137 cm

Ceremonial boomerang from the Lord McAlpine collection, has a…

Ceremonial Boomerang from Lord McAlpine's Collection

Ceremonial boomerang from the Lord McAlpine collection, has a handwritten note attached 'Central Australia No.4'. Black and white ceremonial designs on a red ochre ground. Early 20th century. With a custom stand. 62 cm.

Carved boab nut, ochre picture, two Aboriginal dot paintings,…

Indigenous and International Art Collection

Carved boab nut, ochre picture, two Aboriginal dot paintings, Japanese print, printers' plate of an Australian bush scene, and print of a mother and child, (7 items), the boab nut16 cm high overall

Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri 1926-1998, women from Putji-Die at…

Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri's Women from Putji-Die

Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri 1926-1998, women from Putji-Die at Ngutjulwga 1979. Synthetic polymer paint on board Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri (b.c.1926 at Marnpi southeast of Kintore, Northern Territory 1998), was one of the most important painters to emerge…

A collection of Aboriginal and Tiwi Island painted sculptural…

Aboriginal and Tiwi Island Sculptural Collection

A collection of Aboriginal and Tiwi Island painted sculptural items and shells, circa 1990's, comprising an ironwood Bima figure, two painted birds, and two painted shells both signed and dated, the Bima figure 42 cm high

Fish trap by Neville Mardday, Gunwinggu, Northern Territory,…

Ochre-painted Fish Trap by Neville Mardday

Fish trap by Neville Mardday, Gunwinggu, Northern Territory, painted with ochre on Eucalyptus Stringybark. Height 112 cm, width 59 cm

A painting by Abie Loy Kemare, Utopia, Northern Territory,…

Utopian Dreams

A painting by Abie Loy Kemare, Utopia, Northern Territory, acrylic on canvas. 124 x 127 cm

A Tiwi bird carving by Angelo Munkaru, Bathurst Island, height…

Tiwi Bird Carving by Angelo Munkaru

A Tiwi bird carving by Angelo Munkaru, Bathurst Island, height 59 cm

Nabbari Kintore, 'Untitled' acrylic on Belgian linen, details…

Belgian Linen: Untitled Acrylic

Nabbari Kintore, 'Untitled' acrylic on Belgian linen, details to rear, 61 x 111 cm

A collection of ten painted bailer shells, Bartalumba bay,…

Bailer Shell Paintings by Dick Nangabarra

A collection of ten painted bailer shells, Bartalumba bay, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, natural earth pigments on shell (no custom stands) lengths 6 cm to 13 cm. Provenance: attributed to Dick Nangabarra. Private collection, Queensland

Connie Hart coiled basket, Condah Lakes, Victoria, woven plant…

Connie Hart's Coiled Basket with Handle

Connie Hart coiled basket, Condah Lakes, Victoria, woven plant fibre (no custom stand) the basket is made from fibre using a coiled basketry technique. It has an oval shape with a flat base and straight sides that are slightly warped. A handle extends…

Early bulbous club, Victoria, carved and engraved hardwood (no…

Engraved Bulbous Club from Victoria

Early bulbous club, Victoria, carved and engraved hardwood (no custom stand) the curving shaft of circular section terminating in bulbous head at the distal end, with conical section at the proximal end encircled with engraved ridges and pecked markings…

Hermannsburg pottery jar, hand-painted with animals in…

Hand-painted Hermannsburg pottery jar with animal landscape and bird lid

Hermannsburg pottery jar, hand-painted with animals in landscape with bird lid, 21 cm high

Esther Ngala Kennedy Hermannsburg school 'Scarlet Robin'…

Hand-painted Scarlet Robin pottery vase by E.K

Esther Ngala Kennedy Hermannsburg school 'Scarlet Robin' hand-painted pottery lidded vase, signed 'E. K. 163', 20 cm high

Two early 20th century Australian boomerangs. One Central…

Australian Boomerangs: Early 20th Century Pair

Two early 20th century Australian boomerangs. One Central Australian with incised parallel grooves, ochre painted; and one other. Length 77 cm and 71 cm

Arnhem land ceremonial dance spear. Multi barbed point,…

Arnhem Land Multi-Barbed Spear

Arnhem land ceremonial dance spear. Multi barbed point, decorated with ochre pigments. Length 222 cm

Two Northern Australian Aboriginal carved figures. Mid 20th…

Aboriginal Carved Figures, Mid 20th Century

Two Northern Australian Aboriginal carved figures. Mid 20th century tourist trade carved and, painted figures, one bearing bush church aid Society label. Height 28 cm (tallest)

Western Desert Leangle club. Full length linear groovings with…

Red Ochre Leangle Grooves

Western Desert Leangle club. Full length linear groovings with traces of red ochre. Length 80 cm

Tiwi Islands carved figure. Carved ironwood goose in white…

Ironwood Goose Carving from Tiwi Islands

Tiwi Islands carved figure. Carved ironwood goose in white ochre and cross hatched wings. Height 49 cm

Aboriginal Western Desert boomerang. Full lenth linear grooving,…

Red Ochre Boomerang from Western Desert

Aboriginal Western Desert boomerang. Full lenth linear grooving, red ochre patina, length 64 cm

Early Groote Eylandt ceremonial club. Flat carved hardwood with…

Groote Eylandt ceremonial club

Early Groote Eylandt ceremonial club. Flat carved hardwood with ochre hatched head. Length 118 cm

Aboriginal Leangle club. Right hooking club with regular full…

Aboriginal Ochre Leangle Club

Aboriginal Leangle club. Right hooking club with regular full length channels. Old ochre patination. Length 83 cm

Aboriginal Central Australian boomerang. Regular grooved top…

Aged Boomerang with Ochre Traces, 87cm

Aboriginal Central Australian boomerang. Regular grooved top surface. Age and use patination, old ochre traces. Length 87 cm

A Tiwi figure, carved wood with Ochre decoration., height 35 cm

Tiwi Ochre Carved Wood Figure (or Tiwi Carved Wood Figure)

A Tiwi figure, carved wood with Ochre decoration., height 35 cm

A painted boomerang, ochre and dor decoration, 78 cm long

Decorated Boomerang - 78cm Long

A painted boomerang, ochre and dor decoration, 78 cm long

Attributed to Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, carved hardwood snake,…

Carved Hardwood Snake by Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri

Attributed to Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, carved hardwood snake, beautifully carved with scales, with inlaid bone eyes, nice patina, length 95 cm

Billy Yalwanga (b. 1952), Gunbat- rocky outcrop on the artist's…

Yalwanga's Gunbat: Ochre on Stringbark

Billy Yalwanga (b. 1952), Gunbat- rocky outcrop on the artist's country at Benembenembi, ochre on stringbark, inscribed verso 'YAL77', 69 x 60 cm. Provenance: Maningrida Arts & Crafts, Maningrida, fine tribal Art and Aboriginal paintings, Sothebys…

An Aboriginal pottery vessel with Wanjina motifs, Kimberley…

Aboriginal Pottery Vessel with Wanjina Motifs

An Aboriginal pottery vessel with Wanjina motifs, Kimberley Region, WA. Condition: a chip to the rim, height 37 cm, diameter 20 cm

Didgeridoo. Northern Territory. Banded ochre decoration, length…

Banded Ochre Didgeridoo from Northern Territory

Didgeridoo. Northern Territory. Banded ochre decoration, length 127 cm

Aboriginal wandjina board, Western Australia, retains paper…

Aboriginal Wandjina Board

Aboriginal wandjina board, Western Australia, retains paper gallery label 'Aboriginal arts, 251 St. George's Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, Artist Ignation, Affiliation Walambi, date 30/05/1990', height 59 cm. Provenance: The Estate of Ray Hughes

Harry Tjutjuna (born 1930), Kunakaku Mana Kuliningi (2007),…

Kunakaku Mana Kuliningi by Harry Tjutjuna

Harry Tjutjuna (born 1930), Kunakaku Mana Kuliningi (2007), synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 x 122 cm. Provenance: Ernabella Artists, South Australia (HT311-07), Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, Private Collection, New South Wales

'Kanpi' by Teresa Baker, 2009 Tjungu Palya. Acrylic on canvas,…

Tjungu's Kanpi: A Vibrant Acrylic Canvas

'Kanpi' by Teresa Baker, 2009 Tjungu Palya. Acrylic on canvas, 140 x 101 cm

Australian aboriginal didgeridoo, ochre, cross hatched painted…

Aboriginal Didgeridoo with Cross Hatched Decoration

Australian aboriginal didgeridoo, ochre, cross hatched painted decoration. Originally purchased 1967 in the Mullumbimby district. Length 118 cm

A Mina figure, with faded ochre decoration, on steel and wood…

Faded Ochre Mina Figure on Custom Stand - 160cm

A Mina figure, with faded ochre decoration, on steel and wood custom stand, remnant ochre decoration, some cracks & chipping A/F, height 160 cm

A didgeridoo, decorated with ochre designs in the form of…

Ochre Decorated Didgeridoo from Arnhem Land

A didgeridoo, decorated with ochre designs in the form of turtles and a crocodile, Arnhem Land, Northern Australia, length 145 cm

An Aboriginal Message stick, with incised design and traces of…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Incised Design and Ochre Traces

An Aboriginal Message stick, with incised design and traces of remnant ochre, Central Australia, length 45 cm

An Aboriginal hook boomerang, in the number seven style with…

Aboriginal Hook Boomerang with Yellow Ochre Decoration

An Aboriginal hook boomerang, in the number seven style with yellow and white ochre decoration, some damage repaired with glue a/f, Northern Territory, Australia, length 78 cm

Comprehensive collection of Aboriginal and contemporary prints…

Aboriginal & Contemporary Print Collection

Comprehensive collection of Aboriginal and contemporary prints (one framed), including Florrie Watson Napangardi, Tanyinki, woodblock, 11/40 45 x 55 cm (signed lower right), Raelene Kerenauia, Paddy Ordam, and others.;

Lily Hardgraves Nungurrayi (Born Circa 1930), Bush Vine…

Lily Hardgraves Nungurrayi (Born Circa 1930), Bush Vine (Ngaliyipi) (1996), synthetic polymer paint on linen, bears Warnayaka Arts Centre cat. no. A/207 and Alcaston Gallery cat. no. AK3643 verso, 130 x 99 cm

An Aboriginal ancestral figure decorated with ochre stripes,…

Ochre-striped Ancestral Figure of Northern Australia

An Aboriginal ancestral figure decorated with ochre stripes, Northern Australia 120 cm high.

Two Aboriginal Hollow log ceremonial carvings, Arnhem Land,…

Aboriginal Hollow Log Carvings from Arnhem Land

Two Aboriginal Hollow log ceremonial carvings, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, ochre on wood, 189 cm, 176 cm (height) (2)

A Shield (kuttiji), Central Deserts origin, bean wood and ochre,…

Central Desert Shield with Inscription

A Shield (kuttiji), Central Deserts origin, bean wood and ochre, inscription verso 'Amata. Presented by Willy Connely, 1967', 70.5 cm

Two Aboriginal woomera's - throwing sticks mid 20th century,…

Aboriginal Woomera with Geometric Designs

Two Aboriginal woomera's - throwing sticks mid 20th century, Kimberley Region decorated with geometric designs and red ochre. Lengths: 64.5 cm & 80.5 cm

A pair of painted shells, depicting an Aboriginal settlement by…

Aboriginal settlement on river shells

A pair of painted shells, depicting an Aboriginal settlement by a river against a lush landscape. Signed MG to lower right. 18 x 29 cm

Aboriginal shield. Carved white ochre filled rectangular…

Carved Aboriginal Shield with White Ochre Pattern

Aboriginal shield. Carved white ochre filled rectangular pattern. Remnants of peg handle. Collected central West NSW. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 70 cm

Namiyal Bopirri (Australian, b. 1929), Oysters and Olive python,…

Oysters and Python

Namiyal Bopirri (Australian, b. 1929), Oysters and Olive python, Earth pigment on canvas, 145 x 124 cm

A Tiwi Islands ceremonial wand with ochre finish, 43 cm.…

Tiwi Islands Ochre Wand from Worthington Collection

A Tiwi Islands ceremonial wand with ochre finish, 43 cm. Provenance: Collection of The Late Geoffrey Maxwell Worthington,

Early 20th century Aboriginal Message stick. Extremely dense…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Ochre Coating

Early 20th century Aboriginal Message stick. Extremely dense hardwood, full ochre coating with message both sides. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 90 cm

19th century Aboriginal Message stick. Hardwood, tapering form…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Ochre Markings

19th century Aboriginal Message stick. Hardwood, tapering form with ochre markings. Ex Tyrells collection, thence Bungan Castle Museum. Length 51 cm

Two ceremonial adornments, North Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern…

Ceremonial Adornments from Arnhem Land

Two ceremonial adornments, North Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory (mid twentieth century), bush string, feathers, ochre and spinifex resin, various sizes. Provenance: Important Aboriginal Art, Sothebys, Melbourne, 28 June 1999, lot 165 (partial)

Yalti Napangardi (Born circa 1970), Untitled (2006), synthetic…

Yalti's Untitled

Yalti Napangardi (Born circa 1970), Untitled (2006), synthetic polymer paint on linen, 91 x 91 cm. Provenance: Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, Cooinda Gallery, NSW, The Alex & Annette Hood Collection, NSW

A shield, Lagrange Bay, Western Australia, both sides are…

Ochre-painted carved shield from Lagrange Bay, Western Australia

A shield, Lagrange Bay, Western Australia, both sides are finely carved and ochre painted. 75 x 14.5 cm

Phyllis (Booljoonngali-Nakamarra) Thomas (1935-) Untitled (Boab…

"Boab Trees" by Phyllis Thomas

Phyllis (Booljoonngali-Nakamarra) Thomas (1935-) Untitled (Boab trees) 2004, ochres on canvas, inscribed verso, purchased Warmun arts centre catalogue no. WAC661/04 45 x 120 cm

Janice Murray 'Flying Fox' ochre pigment on cardboard, 77 x 57…

"Flying Fox" Ochre Pigment on Cardboard

Janice Murray 'Flying Fox' ochre pigment on cardboard, 77 x 57 cm

MOLLY NAPANGARDI WORKING 1980's, Women Digging Sugar Ants Near…

Sugar Ant Digging Women

MOLLY NAPANGARDI WORKING 1980's, Women Digging Sugar Ants Near Soakage Near Yuelamu, 1988, signed 'Molly Napangardi, dated 1988, Gallery # M3216, 120 x 90 cm

Early 20th century Aboriginal digging implement. Stone worked…

Aboriginal Stone Digging Tool

Early 20th century Aboriginal digging implement. Stone worked end; and ochre patina. Length 103 cm

Mitjili Napurrula, Aboriginal painting, size 90 by 120 cm, with…

Aboriginal Art: Mitjili Napurrula (90x120cm) with Certificate

Mitjili Napurrula, Aboriginal painting, size 90 by 120 cm, with certificate

Aboriginal Coolamon with longitudinal incisions. Fluting…

Fluted Aboriginal Coolamon with Ochre Patina

Aboriginal Coolamon with longitudinal incisions. Fluting throughout the entire surface, early dry natural ochre patina. Length 67.2 cm. Width 7.6 cm

Wall plaque in the stylized form of a bird and decorated on one…

Hornbill Ancestral Wall Plaque

Wall plaque in the stylized form of a bird and decorated on one side with a design featuring two hornbills and a male ancestral figure brightly decorated with ochre. 113 cm