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...

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Sepik figure Squatting with arms resting to knees, pierced ears…

Squatting Sepik Figure with Shell Eyes

Sepik figure Squatting with arms resting to knees, pierced ears with attached fibre and inset shell eyes. Blackened Patina. Height 32.5 cm. Width 15 cm

Sepik figure carved Hornbill standing on four legged black base.…

Hornbill Sepik Figure on Four-Legged Base

Sepik figure carved Hornbill standing on four legged black base. Blackened overall patina. Cowrie shell inset eyes. Height 67 cm. Width 32 cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik, spirit ancestor figure height 19 cm

Sepik Spirit Ancestor Figure: 19cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik, spirit ancestor figure height 19 cm

Papua New Guinea, Sepik River, hard wood figure, with shell…

Sepik River Hardwood Figure with Shell Eyes on Metal Stand

Papua New Guinea, Sepik River, hard wood figure, with shell eyes, set on metal stand, height 26 cm and 33 cm (including stand)

Sepik River carved basket hook figure, of figural form with…

Sepik River Carved Basket Hook Figure

Sepik River carved basket hook figure, of figural form with carved features and lower mask carved into hook, height 60 cm

A New Guinea Highlands woven figure, Papua New Guinea,…

Highlands Woven Figure from Papua New Guinea

A New Guinea Highlands woven figure, Papua New Guinea, constructed from cane base and fibre binding decorated with remnant ochres, height 78 cm

A Tolai Duk Duk figure with fibre skirt and feather decoration,…

Tolai Duk Duk Figure with Skirt and Feathers

A Tolai Duk Duk figure with fibre skirt and feather decoration, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, height 50 cm

Abelam yam mask, woven figure and natural earth pigments. Used…

Abelam Yam Mask: Fertility Symbol from Papua New Guinea

Abelam yam mask, woven figure and natural earth pigments. Used in the yam ceremony to promote the fertility of the crop. East Sepik Province,Papua New Guinea, W. 34 cm

A bark figure, Blackwater river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea

Blackwater Bark Figure from Papua New Guinea

A bark figure, Blackwater river, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea

'Yina' figure, Waskuk, upper Sepik river 46 cm

Waskuk Yina Figure: Upper Sepik River Art

'Yina' figure, Waskuk, upper Sepik river 46 cm

Standing Trobriand figure and Sepik pig from Tambanum village…

Trobriand Figure and Sepik Pig from Tambanum Village

Standing Trobriand figure and Sepik pig from Tambanum village 48 cm

Ancestral bat figure, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 61 cm

Sepik River Bat Figure

Ancestral bat figure, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 61 cm

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Flute mask, Ramu Valley, Madang;…

Papua New Guinea Flute Mask and Spirit Figure

Two Papua New Guinea artefacts. Flute mask, Ramu Valley, Madang; standing male spirit figure, surmounted by bird, & with shell eyes. Wood, Ochre. Height 60 cm (figure)

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Sepik spirit figure with…

Sepik Spirit Mask with Bird Overlay

Papua New Guinea carved wooden mask. Sepik spirit figure with overlaid bird. Shell and ochre decorated. Length 56 cm

Two Papua New Guinea standing male ancestor figures. Blackened,…

Papua New Guinea Male Ancestor Figures

Two Papua New Guinea standing male ancestor figures. Blackened, with old lime decoration. Losses to feet of one. Height 68 cm

An ancestral figure wood with ochre decoration. Middle Sepik…

Sepik Ancestral Figure with Ochre Decoration

An ancestral figure wood with ochre decoration. Middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea; A/F

Ancestral figure, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 64 cm

Sepik Ancestral Figure

Ancestral figure, Sepik river,Papua New Guinea 64 cm

Papua New Guinea Timbuwarra figure, the Timbuwarra, is a type…

Wiru Timbuwarra Fertility Figure

Papua New Guinea Timbuwarra figure, the Timbuwarra, is a type of ritual figure produced by the Wiru people of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Timbuwarra figures are generally made of rattan and May serve several functions, although…

Papua New Guinea, Sepik carved figure, depicted standing with…

Papua New Guinea, Sepik carved figure, depicted standing with hands by side, set on stand, height 18.5 cm and 20 cm (including stand)

A Sepik ancestral figure, in dark heavy wood, decorated with…

Sepik Ancestral Figure from Timbunke Village, PNG

A Sepik ancestral figure, in dark heavy wood, decorated with natural ochres, Timbunke village, Sepik river, Papua New Guinea, height 50 cm

Sepik River ancestor figure, approx 53 cm high

Sepik River Ancestor Figure - 53 cm

Sepik River ancestor figure, approx 53 cm high

Oriental lidded jar, vase, a guinea fowl figure & two glass…

Assorted Oriental Decor: Jar, Vase, Figurine, and Vases

Oriental lidded jar, vase, a guinea fowl figure & two glass vases & Chinese vase. Approx 45 cm long & shorter (5)

Ancestral figure, Blackwater river,Papua New Guinea 52 cm

Blackwater River Ancestral Figure

Ancestral figure, Blackwater river,Papua New Guinea 52 cm

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures. Crocodile totem & small…

PNG Carved Crocodile Totem & Spirit Mask

Two Papua New Guinea carved figures. Crocodile totem & small spirit mask. Height 35 cm (crocodile)

Papua New Guinea carved figure. Couple in congress. Old carbon…

Papua New Guinea Carved Couple Figure

Papua New Guinea carved figure. Couple in congress. Old carbon patina with shell eyes. Splits. Height 41 cm

Papua New Guinea spirit figure, Sepik River, carved coastal…

Polychrome Sepik River Spirit Figure

Papua New Guinea spirit figure, Sepik River, carved coastal palm wood, with polychrome decoration, 25 cmH, (repair to ear)

Papua New Guinea, New Britain, Duk Duk figure, painted in…

Duk Duk Figure from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, New Britain, Duk Duk figure, painted in yellow, white and red, height 45 cm

An ancestral figure in squatting form, Indonesia & a wooden…

Squatting Ancestral Figure and Wooden Beater

An ancestral figure in squatting form, Indonesia & a wooden beater, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, height 18 cm

A Chambri lakes ancestral mask, Papua New Guinea, features in…

Chambri Lakes Ancestral Mask from Papua New Guinea

A Chambri lakes ancestral mask, Papua New Guinea, features in the publication the Garrick introduction to Sepik Art (1972) IV Gabel masks. Figure 15 75 cm

A Sepik river ancestral figure, middle Sepik Region, Papua New…

Sepik River Ancestral Figure from Papua New Guinea

A Sepik river ancestral figure, middle Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, height 51 cm

A Yipwan cult figure, Karawari river, Sepik Region Papua New…

Karawari Yipwan Cult Figure from Papua New Guinea

A Yipwan cult figure, Karawari river, Sepik Region Papua New Guinea 107 cm

An ancestral figure carving, Trobriand Islands, Papua New…

Trobriand Islands Ancestral Female Figure Carving

An ancestral figure carving, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, 20th century. Carved from a single piece of wood and coloured with a rich brown patina. The figure depicts a female wearing a conical hat and a girdle. The figure stands in a closed posture…

A carved timber female figure supporting a vessel, Murik lakes,…

Murik Lakes Female Figure Vessel Support

A carved timber female figure supporting a vessel, Murik lakes, Papua New Guinea, height 29 cm