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...

53 items found:

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

Admiralty Islands spear. Obsidian tip, fibre, trade beads, and…

Admiralty Islands Obsidian Spear with Trade Beads and Ochre

Admiralty Islands spear. Obsidian tip, fibre, trade beads, and ochre pigments, length 197 cm

Sepik spear thrower, Papua New Guinea, with a split bamboo…

Sepik spear thrower, Papua New Guinea, with a split bamboo shaft and carved wooden ornament in the form of a stylised bird, length 95 cm

Papua New Guinea spear thrower, carved chicken and crocodile…

PNG Carved Spear with Chicken and Crocodile Motifs

Papua New Guinea spear thrower, carved chicken and crocodile motifs surmounting a bamboo shaft. 143 cm length

A Bougainville Island spear with bone Barbs, carved decoration…

Bougainville Island Spear with Bone Barbs and Carvings

A Bougainville Island spear with bone Barbs, carved decoration to the top section. Provenance: Owen Mapp collection, 281 cm length

A wooden arrow, Papua New Guinea, flat form a slight twist to…

Papua New Guinea Wooden Arrow

A wooden arrow, Papua New Guinea, flat form a slight twist to the wood. Serrations to one end. Length 57 cm

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a carved wood shank bound to the…

Papua New Guinea Spear with Human Hair Binding

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a carved wood shank bound to the split cane shaft with human hair, length 86 cm, width 3 cm

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a carved wood shank bound to a cane…

Papua New Guinea Spear - Carved Wood and Cane Shaft

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a carved wood shank bound to a cane shaft, length 108 cm

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a barbed spear head bound to a cane…

Barbed Spear from Papua New Guinea

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a barbed spear head bound to a cane shaft, length 120 cm

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a barbed spear head bound to a cane…

Barbed Spear with Etched Pattern from Papua New Guinea

A spear, Papua New Guinea, a barbed spear head bound to a cane shaft. With a pattern etched into the shaft, length 135 cm

A spear thrower and a flute stopper, carved wood, bamboo,…

Papua New Guinea Carved Wood Artifacts

A spear thrower and a flute stopper, carved wood, bamboo, feather, shell, hair and fibre, Papua New Guinea, the larger 101 cm high

Obsidian Bladed spear Admiralty Island 19th century. Carved…

Obsidian Spear from Admiralty Island

Obsidian Bladed spear Admiralty Island 19th century. Carved wood with sharpened obsidian blade and engraved paste. Approx. length 33 cm

Old bow of black palm and twelve fighting arrows, Highlands…

Highlands Fighting Bow and Arrows

Old bow of black palm and twelve fighting arrows, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, the bow is re-inforced with numerous tight cane bindings, with attached bow string of cane. 12 old arrows for fighting, some with bone tips, height 170 cm

A set of 19 arrows, one spear and one bow, Highlands Region,…

Highlands Weapon Collection

A set of 19 arrows, one spear and one bow, Highlands Region, Papua New Guinea, collected by Dr John Clatworthy who worked for several years in the New Guinea highlands as a medical doctor prior to 1953. Thence by descent, length 125 cm to 198 cm

10 various Papua New Guinea arrows, length 140 cm-150 cm

Papua New Guinea Arrows Set (140-150cm)

10 various Papua New Guinea arrows, length 140 cm-150 cm

Papua New Guinea Asmat spear. Hardwood spear with cassowary…

Asmat Spear with Cassowary Claw

Papua New Guinea Asmat spear. Hardwood spear with cassowary claw point. With decorative pierced work and carving below. Fibre binding and feathers to shaft. Length 260 cm

An old fighting shield, Obura, Eastern Highlands, Papua New…

Ancient Obura Fighting Shield with Engraved Design and Spears

An old fighting shield, Obura, Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, old label reads 'Obura. 16 spears', the wooden shield is ancient with fine engraved design all over on the front & covered with spear points from ancient fights, blank on reverse, the top…

Admiralty Islands spear head, 19th century, with obsidian head,…

Admiralty Islands Obsidian Spearhead with Carved Decoration

Admiralty Islands spear head, 19th century, with obsidian head, with carved decoration, on mount, height 31 cm (spear head). Provenance: Chris Boylan tribal Art, Kensington, 2017, then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear head, with obsidian spear head,…

Admiralty Islands Obsidian Spear Head with Woven Decoration

Admiralty Islands spear head, with obsidian spear head, supported with woven natural fibre and carved decoration accented by shells, length 47 cm. Provenance: Arthur Whall 2017, then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, carved with a figural motif…

Admiralty Islands Figural Spear with Obsidian Tip

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, carved with a figural motif with obsidian spear, on metal stand, length 135 cm. Provenance: Purchased Arthur Whall, April 2018, then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with obsidian spear head,…

Obsidian Spear with Carvings and Woven Handle, Admiralty Islands

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with obsidian spear head, above carved decoration, with woven natural fibre to upper handle, length 153 cm. Provenance: Germany private collection, Arthur Whall 2017 then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with wooden spear head,…

Admiralty Islands Spear with Carved and Woven Decoration

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with wooden spear head, above carved and woven decoration, painted in natural pigment, in white and ochre, length 198 cm. Provenance: Germany private collection, Arthur Whall 2017 then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear, with obsidian spear head, above a…

Obsidian-tipped Admiralty Island Spear with Figural Carving

Admiralty Islands spear, with obsidian spear head, above a carved figural body, in painted ochre, with lower natural fibre weaving, length 180 cm. Provenance: Germany private collection, Arthur Whall 2017 then private collection Sydney

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with large obsidian spear…

Obsidian-tipped Admiralty Islands spear with shell and pigment accents

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with large obsidian spear head, above carved decoration, accented with shells and natural pigments in ochre and white, length 233 cm. Provenance: Germany private collection, Arthur Whall 2017 then private collection…

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with carved twin spear head,…

Admiralty Islands Spear with Carved Twin Head and Shells

Admiralty Islands spear, pre 1910, with carved twin spear head, above a painted body accented with shells, in tones of ochre, black and white, length 220 cm. Provenance: Germany private collection, Arthur Whall 2017 then private collection Sydney

A Nakanai ceremonial shield with a spear and carved object,…

Nakanai Shield and Spear with Carved Object

A Nakanai ceremonial shield with a spear and carved object, shield signed and dated: 11.7.64 District Officer, Sheild height 141 cm, spear height 234.5 cm, object height 34.3 cm. Provenance: 'Wybalena', Hunters hill, Sydney

Sixteen assorted New Guinea Highlands arrows, Papua New Guinea…

16 New Guinea Highland Arrows

Sixteen assorted New Guinea Highlands arrows, Papua New Guinea (16) longest 125 cm

A large Asmat war spear, West Papua, with multiple prongs, some…

Asmat War Spear with Multiple Prongs - 270cm

A large Asmat war spear, West Papua, with multiple prongs, some minor damage to barbs a/f 270 cm

Hunstein Mountains, mountain God, Upper Sepik River, these…

Garra: Hooked Figures of Hunstein Mountains

Hunstein Mountains, mountain God, Upper Sepik River, these hooked figures called 'Garra' represent powerful spirits; the hooks are both spirit spears and also ancestral bird beaks, 105 x 17 cm

An Obsidian spear, with incised and painted mounting, on bamboo…

Admiralty Islands Obsidian Spear on Bamboo Shaft

An Obsidian spear, with incised and painted mounting, on bamboo shaft, on custom steel stand, Admiralty Islands (Manus), Papua New Guinea, height 175 cm

Twelve New Guinea Arrows, length 135 cm

New Guinea Arrows: 135 cm Length

Twelve New Guinea Arrows, length 135 cm

An Asmat carving from Irian Jaya. Collected in 2008, a relief…

Asmat Carved Panel with Dog and Spear Motif

An Asmat carving from Irian Jaya. Collected in 2008, a relief carved panel with patterns in natural dark and near white colours on brown, with a barbed spear motif to the centre and surmounted by the figure of a dog. Length 98 cm

Papua New Guinea spear thrower. Bamboo & rattan with carved…

PNG Bird-Carved Spear Thrower

Papua New Guinea spear thrower. Bamboo & rattan with carved bird & ochre decoration. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 86 cm

Old war shield, Simbai area,Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Schrader…

Antique Papua New Guinea War Shield

Old war shield, Simbai area,Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Schrader Ranges, Madang Province, finely carved with clan designs and very old patina. Some arrow and spear tips embedded in the front of this shield. Early 20th century. Provenance: Collected by Jack…

War shield, Wahgi Valley area, Western Highlands Province, this…

Battle-Scarred Wahgi Valley War Shield

War shield, Wahgi Valley area, Western Highlands Province, this large and well used older shield has many battle scars and arrow holes. It is made from a dense hardwood. Trees of this size were long ago used by people who had to go further & further to…

Two old Sepik spear thrower ornaments, [2], one in the form of…

Sepik Spear Thrower Ornaments from Anthony Forge Collection

Two old Sepik spear thrower ornaments, [2], one in the form of a bird and the other a crocodile, both with incised designs and old patina. Provenance: Anthony Forge collection. Forge (1929-1991) was born in London. He studied archaeology and anthropology…

An early Admiralty Islands Obsidian Bladed spear, together with…

Admiralty Islands Obsidian Blade Spear and Dagger Set

An early Admiralty Islands Obsidian Bladed spear, together with an Obsidian Bladed dagger, [2], spear with a carved crocodile, ochre painting and fine binding, dagger with tradition resin handle and sharp fine flaked blade. Both late 19th century.…

Two old Sepik river spear Throwers, [2], one of the 'Bamboo…

Sepik River Spear Throwers: Bamboo & Hardwood

Two old Sepik river spear Throwers, [2], one of the 'Bamboo type' with a finely carved wood ornament in the form of a stylized bird, the other made from a single piece of hard wood with fine incised designs on both sides and old patina. Provenance: Todd…

A fine spear showing a janus head Admiralty Islands, 19th…

Janus Head Spear from Admiralty Islands

A fine spear showing a janus head Admiralty Islands, 19th century wood, ochres, obsidian. Provenance: berry collection, Melbourne. Length 147 cm

Group of 12 Papua New Guinea spears, including good carved &…

Collection of 12 PNG Spears from 1950s

Group of 12 Papua New Guinea spears, including good carved & bone pointed on grass bound shafts. Some with original reed tip protectors. Collected mid 1950s. Length 135 cm (largest)

Two ceremonial Papua New Guinea spears. One relief carved with…

Papua New Guinea Carved Spears (Pair)

Two ceremonial Papua New Guinea spears. One relief carved with lime, the other incised. Both have figure to ends. Length 180 cm (each)

Three old Bows andSpear, two very old bows from the Southern…

Ancient Bows and Spear from Papua New Guinea

Three old Bows andSpear, two very old bows from the Southern Highlands, together with an orchid stem fibre covered bow from Bougainville Island ( in near perfect original condition), and a mount Hagen spear finial. Collected by Todd Barlin 'Two Bows were…

Forty eight Arrows and an ancient wood bow, these arrows are of…

48 High-Quality Arrows and Ancient Wood Bow

Forty eight Arrows and an ancient wood bow, these arrows are of the highest quality; collected by Todd Barlin. 'In 1985 I walked with medical patrol from lake Kopiago in the Southern Highlands to the Hewa people (they are between the Southern Highlands…

Forty eight Arrows and an ancient wood bow, these arrows are of…

48 High-Quality Arrows and Ancient Wood Bow

Forty eight Arrows and an ancient wood bow, these arrows are of the highest quality; collected by Todd Barlin. 'In 1985 I walked with medical patrol from lake Kopiago in the Southern Highlands to the Hewa people (they are between the Southern Highlands…

An ancient stone axe, Southern Highlands, New Guinea, 19th…

Ancient Stone Axe from Southern Highlands, New Guinea

An ancient stone axe, Southern Highlands, New Guinea, 19th century; ancient glossy patina and original hard green stone. Collected by Todd Barlin. 'In 1985 I walked with medical patrol from lake Kopiago in the Southern Highlands to the Hewa people (they…

Three New Guinea objects, including figural garamut drum lug,…

New Guinea Objects: Drum, Staff, and Spear Finial

Three New Guinea objects, including figural garamut drum lug, Maprik region yam digging staff and crocodile spear finial, the latter, 48 cm long

A fighting spear, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 323 cm

Bougainville Fighting Spear: Papua New Guinea Weaponry

A fighting spear, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 323 cm

Three various Papua New Guinea Bows. Also one arrow & hand…

Papua New Guinea Bow Collection

Three various Papua New Guinea Bows. Also one arrow & hand spear handle (blade missing). Collected 1950s. Length 176 cm (longest bow)

8 various Papua New Guinea spears. Displayed on canvas panel.…

Papua New Guinea Spear Collection

8 various Papua New Guinea spears. Displayed on canvas panel. Different carved tips bound to bamboo shafts. Height 183 cm. Width 61 cm (panel)

Assortment Papua New Guinea spears. Displayed in 3 glazed cases,…

Papua New Guinea Spear Collection

Assortment Papua New Guinea spears. Displayed in 3 glazed cases, various carved tips & incised shafts. Total 25 spears. 156 x 54 cm (2) 148 x 92 (1) (case sizes)

A New Guinea hunting bow and arrow set, c.1960's, decorated…

New Guinea Tribal Bow and Arrow Set, 1960s

A New Guinea hunting bow and arrow set, c.1960's, decorated with drawn tribal motifs to, arrows and the bow is decorated with intricate, woven designs. Length 142 cm (bow). Provenance: Collected in the 1960's by current owners

Papua New Guinea spear. Length 238 cm

Long Papua New Guinea Spear

Papua New Guinea spear. Length 238 cm

Papua New Guinea tribal bow with two arrows

Tribal Bow and Arrows from Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea tribal bow with two arrows

A group of assorted New Guinea n tribal artefacts, including…

New Guinea Tribal Artefacts Collection

A group of assorted New Guinea n tribal artefacts, including carved and painted figures and dishes, bows, and arrows and spears, various sizes