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:

39 items found:

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

Two Aboriginal Coolamon with painted decoration, length 67 cm…

Aboriginal Coolamon Pair: Painted Decorations, 67 cm Length

Two Aboriginal Coolamon with painted decoration, length 67 cm longest)

Aboriginal artists unknown, Decorated Coolamons' (3), Early-mid…

Aboriginal artists unknown, Decorated Coolamons' (3), Early-mid 20thc, one of beanwood, painted with natural earth pigments., 59 x 23 cm. largest (x 3)

A vintage Aboriginal Coolamon bowl made from Australian…

A vintage Aboriginal Coolamon bowl made from Australian hardwood, wire burnt decoration. Coolamons were traditionally used by Aboriginal women to carry water, fruits, nuts etc, length 21 cm,

Aboriginal pokerwork Coolamon. Together with two pokerwork…

Aboriginal pokerwork Coolamon. Together with two pokerwork early souvenir boomerangs from lake Tyers (1945), and Cairns, length 57 cm (longest)

Large Aboriginal Western Desert Dot-Painted Coolamon., carved…

Aboriginal Desert Dot-Painted Coolamon: 95cm Carved Beanwood Masterpiece

Large Aboriginal Western Desert Dot-Painted Coolamon., carved beanwood & natural earth pigments, length 95 cm

A Central Australia beanwood coolamon, decorated in red and…

Decorated Central Australian Beanwood Coolamon

A Central Australia beanwood coolamon, decorated in red and white ochre, with contiguous fluting to the reverse. Ex-Bonhams 2013. Early 1900's. With a custom stand. 59 x 23 cm

An old Coolamon with remnant Ochre design, Central Australia,…

Remnant Ochre Coolamon from Central Australia

An old Coolamon with remnant Ochre design, Central Australia, height 7.5 cm, length 62 cm, width 18 cm

Fine early Coolamon, Western Australia. Carved and engraved…

Coolamon from Western Australia

Fine early Coolamon, Western Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood, length 50.5 x 18.5 cm. Provenance: Michael Graham Stewart, London the Leicester Galleries, London. Private collection, Queensland

Four Coolamon Aboriginal carrying vessels of many uses. All…

Adorned Coolamon: Versatile Aboriginal Carrying Vessels

Four Coolamon Aboriginal carrying vessels of many uses. All heavily decorated.

Various Australian Aboriginal art objects, Peggy Griffiths, b.…

Aboriginal Art Objects: Carved Nut, Clap Sticks, Coolamon

Various Australian Aboriginal art objects, Peggy Griffiths, b. 1941 carved boab nut; pair of painted clap sticks, length 50 cm; & two painted coolamon length 46 cm, each.

Aboriginal painted Coolamon. Acrylic on wood length 62 cm

Aboriginal Coolamon: A Painted Tradition

Aboriginal painted Coolamon. Acrylic on wood length 62 cm

Aboriginal painted Coolamon. Acrylic on wood length 80 cm

Aboriginal Coolamon: Painted Wood Art

Aboriginal painted Coolamon. Acrylic on wood length 80 cm

Two Aboriginal artefacts woomera, carved decoration, 80 cm very…

Fine Aboriginal Artefacts: Woomera & Coolamon

Two Aboriginal artefacts woomera, carved decoration, 80 cm very finely fluted Coolamon, 58 cm

Coolamon, South Australia, carved hardwood, approx. length 51 x…

Carved Hardwood Coolamon from South Australia

Coolamon, South Australia, carved hardwood, approx. length 51 x 21 cm

Australian Aboriginal school, painted Coolamon, acrylic on wood,…

Aboriginal Coolamon: Artistic Representation of Culture

Australian Aboriginal school, painted Coolamon, acrylic on wood, length 66 cm, width 25 cm

Djunggunwanga, George (Aboriginal active 1980s), also known as,…

Decorated Coolamon by Aboriginal Artist George Jangawanga

Djunggunwanga, George (Aboriginal active 1980s), also known as, George Jangawanga. Domicile, Burunga (near Katherine) coolamon, with all over decoration. Wood and natural earth pigments. 94 x 35 cm

Central Australian Aboriginal carrier. Long flat coolamon with…

Central Coolamon: Aboriginal Carrier with Dotted Decoration

Central Australian Aboriginal carrier. Long flat coolamon with typical central rolled sides. Natural pigments dotted decoration. Length 77 cm

Aboriginal dot painting on wooden coolamon, 87 cm high

Dot Painted Coolamon: Aboriginal Art on Wood

Aboriginal dot painting on wooden coolamon, 87 cm high

A painted coolamon, 72 cm long

Colorful Coolamon: A Vibrant 72 cm Masterpiece

A painted coolamon, 72 cm long

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 large Aboriginal Coolamon with incised design, Central…

Aboriginal Coolamon with Incised Design from Central Australia

A large Aboriginal Coolamon with incised design, Central Australia, 50 x 45 cm

Central Australian softwood coolamon. Hand painted in natural…

Papunya Softwood Coolamon, c1960s

Central Australian softwood coolamon. Hand painted in natural earth tones. Papunya c1960s. Length 67 cm

Australian Aboriginal carved wood Coolamon of oval shape,…

Aboriginal Vine Carved Coolamon

Australian Aboriginal carved wood Coolamon of oval shape, carved with vines

Group of 3 ancient coolamons. Central Australia, late 19th…

Ancient Coolamons Trio from Central Australia

Group of 3 ancient coolamons. Central Australia, late 19th early 20th century. Provenance: ex Blacks Museum, Mt Gambier, SA, length 35 cm, 30 cm, & 41 cm

Coolamon. two ochre stenciled handprints. Possibly from north…

Ochre Handprints on Coolamon

Coolamon. two ochre stenciled handprints. Possibly from north Western Australia, height 57 cm

An Aboriginal coolamon decorated with red ochre and white…

Aboriginal Coolamon with Red and White Stripes

An Aboriginal coolamon decorated with red ochre and white lateral stripes. Central Australia, length 63 cm

Aboriginal hardwood Coolamon.

Aboriginal Coolamon: Hardwood Tradition

Aboriginal hardwood Coolamon.

A Coolamon, Ernabella Station (Pukatja) South Australia, circa…

Ernabella Station Coolamon, 1920s - Coulthard Family Ownership

A Coolamon, Ernabella Station (Pukatja) South Australia, circa 1920s, purchased from the Coulthard family by the current vendor, 75.5 cm

A coolamon with fine linear decoration, central Australian…

Central Australian Fine Linear Decorated Coolamon

A coolamon with fine linear decoration, central Australian origin, 62 cm. Provenance: Collection of The Late Geoffrey Maxwell Worthington,

Two Coolamons, central deserts origin, late 19th early 20th…

Central Desert Coolamons: Late 19th-20th Century

Two Coolamons, central deserts origin, late 19th early 20th century.

A bean wood shield, Central Australia, together with a finely…

Aboriginal Shield and Coolamon Bowl Set with Designs

A bean wood shield, Central Australia, together with a finely carved and ochred coolamon bowl; the shield with faint painted designs (emu and foliage) Provenance: This shield was given as a thank you to Dr Bertram Welton in the 1940s when he worked with…

A large old Australian Aboriginal Coolamon bowl, Central…

Aboriginal Coolamon Bowl with Clan Designs

A large old Australian Aboriginal Coolamon bowl, Central Australia; finely incised on both sides with linear striations, the outside painted with traditional central Desert clan designs. 69 x 26 cm

An Aboriginal Coolamon, Central Australia, wood with fluted…

Aboriginal Fluted Wood Coolamon from Central Australia

An Aboriginal Coolamon, Central Australia, wood with fluted carving to exterior, 48 x 19 cm

Robert Wuldi, 'Aboriginal hardwood Carving of Baby in Coolamon'…

Aboriginal Baby Carving in Coolamon

Robert Wuldi, 'Aboriginal hardwood Carving of Baby in Coolamon' 30 x 12 cm

Aboriginal Mulgawood coolamon

Mulgawood Coolamon: An Aboriginal Artifact

Aboriginal Mulgawood coolamon

A coolamon (piti), Northern Australia (circa 1930), carved wood…

Carved Coolamon from Northern Australia

A coolamon (piti), Northern Australia (circa 1930), carved wood and earth pigments, 78.5 cm long. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A fine coolamon (piti), Central Australia (circa 1900), carved…

Central Australian Coolamon, circa 1900

A fine coolamon (piti), Central Australia (circa 1900), carved hardwood and natural earth pigments, 43.3 x 19.3 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Melbourne

Aboriginal hand carved coolamon. 41 cm long

Hand-carved Aboriginal Coolamon - 41cm Length

Aboriginal hand carved coolamon. 41 cm long

Aboriginal carved Coolamon. Finely worked hatching to anterior.…

Aboriginal Carved Coolamon, 1960s

Aboriginal carved Coolamon. Finely worked hatching to anterior. Possibly WA or NT, c1960's. Length 54 cm