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:

234 items found, 193-234 shown:

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An Aboriginal bean wood shield, central Desert Region. Early…

Aboriginal Fluted Bean Wood Shield

An Aboriginal bean wood shield, central Desert Region. Early 20th century. The shield is carved both sides with fluted lines and decorated with ochre, showing good patina. Length 57 cm

19th century Aboriginal parrying shield. Early shield with…

Aboriginal Parrying Shield with Incised Decoration

19th century Aboriginal parrying shield. Early shield with later rustic harbour bridge and faunal incised decoration. Vestigial ochre banding(?) under surface patina. Crude, incised signature verso. Length 55 cm

An Aboriginal didgeridoo and shield (i) Painted ochres on…

Aboriginal Artifacts: Didgeridoo and Shield

An Aboriginal didgeridoo and shield (i) Painted ochres on hollow log and with carvings of various native animals length 110 cm (ii) Harwood shield with carvings of figures length 85 cm

Australian Aboriginal shield, of narrow leaf form, painted with…

Aboriginal shield with goanna and snake motifs in red

Australian Aboriginal shield, of narrow leaf form, painted with goanna and snake motifs, in tones of red, black and white, length 97 cm

Australian Aboriginal shield, of elongated oval form, incised…

Australian Aboriginal shield, of elongated oval form, incised with line and dot work to both sides, length 72 cm

A collection Aboriginal wooden vessels and weapons comprising…

Aboriginal Wooden Vessels and Weapons Collection

A collection Aboriginal wooden vessels and weapons comprising two clubs, a small bowl, a parrying shield and a spear the spear 92 cm long

Early Australian Aboriginal shield, central Desert, in beanwood,…

Beanwood Aboriginal Shield, Central Desert, Fluted Interior

Early Australian Aboriginal shield, central Desert, in beanwood, of oval form, good patina to exterior, fluting to interior, length 67.5 cm

Shield, Central Australia (1960s), natural earth pigments on…

Shield of Central Australia

Shield, Central Australia (1960s), natural earth pigments on carved beanwood. 62.5 cm

19th century shield Central Desert Region, Australia. 58 x 19 cm

Desert Shield: 19th Century Australian Indigenous Art

19th century shield Central Desert Region, Australia. 58 x 19 cm

An old Australian aboriginal shield, of flat elliptical form,…

Aboriginal Shield with Grooved and Spiral Patterns

An old Australian aboriginal shield, of flat elliptical form, decorated to the front with incised grooved and spiral patterns, an integral loop handle fashioned to the back and with further grooved patterning. Deep reddish brown patina. Height 74 cm

A shield with painted ochre decoration, most likely West…

Ochre Shield from West Queensland

A shield with painted ochre decoration, most likely West Queensland, 20th century.

A shield, Queensland (mid-twentieth century), pigments on…

Queensland Shield: Carved Wood and Pigments

A shield, Queensland (mid-twentieth century), pigments on carved wood. 67 cm high

Aboriginal La Perouse Beanwood shield., carved wood, 50 cm long,…

Pokerwork Fauna: Aboriginal La Perouse Beanwood Shield

Aboriginal La Perouse Beanwood shield., carved wood, 50 cm long, with pokerwork decoration of Australian fauna

Aboriginal parrying shield and nulla nulla. Length 86 cm shield…

Aboriginal Shield and Nulla Nulla Set

Aboriginal parrying shield and nulla nulla. Length 86 cm shield length 80 cm

Wooden Aboriginal shield, Of large size, possibly Northern NSW.…

Large Wooden Aboriginal Shield

Wooden Aboriginal shield, Of large size, possibly Northern NSW. 107 x 22 cm

A child's shield, with faded ochre design to face and verso,…

Faded Ochre Child's Shield from Western Australia

A child's shield, with faded ochre design to face and verso, Western Australia, height 36 cm

A Gulmari child's shield, with painted design to face and verso,…

Gulmari Child's Painted Shield from Queensland, Australia

A Gulmari child's shield, with painted design to face and verso, Queensland, Australia, 34 cm

A shield, Western Australia and a bulbous headed club, south…

Australian Indigenous Carved Wood Shield and Club Set

A shield, Western Australia and a bulbous headed club, south Eastern Australia carved wood, pokerwork designs with emu and kangaroo (club) 67 cm and 45.5 cm(26 3/8

Australian Aboriginal Totemic shield, Nepabunna, South…

Aboriginal Totemic Shield from Nepabunna, South Australia: Carved Wildlife

Australian Aboriginal Totemic shield, Nepabunna, South Australian, of boat form, decorated with carved frogs, goanna and snakes, length 38 cm

Australian Aboriginal shield, South Australian, in mulga, of…

Australian Aboriginal shield, South Australian, in mulga, of narrow curved oval form, incised with wave and line decoration to each side, length 75 cm. Provenance: tribal ancient, then private collection, Queensland

Aboriginal parrying shield. Early to mid 20th century mulga…

Mulga Wood Aboriginal Parrying Shield, 20th Century

Aboriginal parrying shield. Early to mid 20th century mulga wood shield with good patination. Age crack verso, length 61 cm

An Aboriginal miniature shield, carved wood and ochre, Western…

Aboriginal Miniature Shield from Western Australia, Early 20th Century

An Aboriginal miniature shield, carved wood and ochre, Western Australian origin, early 20th century 32.5 cm long

Aboriginal shield, Eastern Queensland. Oval shield with inset…

Watercolour Landscape Aboriginal Shield

Aboriginal shield, Eastern Queensland. Oval shield with inset handle. Decorated with watercolour landscape to face. Damage and losses, length 66 cm

Early Aboriginal hardwood shield with geometric hand carved…

Geometric Aboriginal Hardwood Shield

Early Aboriginal hardwood shield with geometric hand carved design

Early Aboriginal hardwood shield with geometric hand carved…

Geometric Aboriginal Hardwood Shield

Early Aboriginal hardwood shield with geometric hand carved design

Aboriginal hardwood shield, with Spinefex resin repait to face,…

Aboriginal Hardwood Shield with Spinefex Resin Repair

Aboriginal hardwood shield, with Spinefex resin repait to face, signs of use to hand, Central Australia

Aboriginal carved Australian Wanda shield, incised angular…

Angular Incised Wanda Shield of Aboriginal Australia

Aboriginal carved Australian Wanda shield, incised angular decoration

An Australian Aboriginal hardwood shield, 73 cm long

Aboriginal Hardwood Shield - 73cm Long

An Australian Aboriginal hardwood shield, 73 cm long

Circa 1940 Aboriginal toy Weapons. Carved from the correct…

Aboriginal Toy Weapons Set

Circa 1940 Aboriginal toy Weapons. Carved from the correct woods, and includes spears; lil lil; parrying shield; paddle; boomerang; and clubs. Length 33 cm (longest)

An Aboriginal shield, 20th century, carved in geometric designs…

Aboriginal Shield with Geometric Designs and Pigments

An Aboriginal shield, 20th century, carved in geometric designs with ochre, yellow and white pigments, 160 x 41 cm

Aboriginal shield West Australian origin circa 1940s (62 cm); &…

Aboriginal Shield and Club from West and Central Australia

Aboriginal shield West Australian origin circa 1940s (62 cm); & a club central deserts origin (58 cm)

Aboriginal shield. Curved oval form with integral handle, ochre…

Queensland Aboriginal Ochre Shield - 75cm

Aboriginal shield. Curved oval form with integral handle, ochre decoration. Queensland, length 75 cm

Aboriginal hardwood shield, NSW, 77 x 12 cm

NSW Aboriginal Hardwood Shield - 77 x 12 cm

Aboriginal hardwood shield, NSW, 77 x 12 cm

An Aboriginal fighting shield, length 60 cm

Aboriginal Fighting Shield - 60cm Length

An Aboriginal fighting shield, length 60 cm

An Aboriginal hardwood shield, in mulga wood with incised…

Mulga Wood Aboriginal Shield with Incised Design

An Aboriginal hardwood shield, in mulga wood with incised design to face and verso, Central Australia, length 46 cm

A Central Australian Aboriginal shield, hardwood with a series…

Central Australian Aboriginal Shield with Incised Designs

A Central Australian Aboriginal shield, hardwood with a series of incised designs to face, alternating between concentric circles and spirals, interspaced with lateral incised groves, length 75 cm

A Softwood Aboriginal shield, in oval form made from bean wood…

Aboriginal Shield with Fluted Incisions and Red Ochre Decoration

A Softwood Aboriginal shield, in oval form made from bean wood with fluted incisions decorated with red ochre, counter sunk hand, with note 'Walbiri', Central Australia, length 64 cm

An Aboriginal bean wood shield with fluting and decorated with…

Aboriginal Fluted Bean Wood Shield with Red Ochre Decoration

An Aboriginal bean wood shield with fluting and decorated with red ochre. Central Australia. 53 cm

Circa 1950's Aboriginal fighting shield with carved line…

1950's Aboriginal Fighting Shield with Carved Line Designs

Circa 1950's Aboriginal fighting shield with carved line designs, length 68 cm

Kantjupayi Benson Aboriginal carved shield circa 1930's, length…

Aboriginal Carved Shield from 1930's

Kantjupayi Benson Aboriginal carved shield circa 1930's, length 64 cm

An Aboriginal shield, pokerwork design to face, height 65 cm

Aboriginal Pokerwork Shield - 65cm Height

An Aboriginal shield, pokerwork design to face, height 65 cm

Aboriginal Mulga root fighting shield length 73.5 cm

Aboriginal Mulga Root Fighting Shield - 73.5cm Length

Aboriginal Mulga root fighting shield length 73.5 cm