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:

28 items found:

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

Aboriginal dot painted didgeridoo, length 105 cm

Aboriginal Dot Painted Didgeridoo - 105 cm Length

Aboriginal dot painted didgeridoo, length 105 cm

Aboriginal didgeridoo. Heavily adzed surface with ochre…

Adzed Aboriginal Didgeridoo with Ochre and Trade Paint Decoration

Aboriginal didgeridoo. Heavily adzed surface with ochre decoration with (later) trade paint embellishment, early example, length 137 cm

Early 1900's Aboriginal tobacco pipe a long 'Didgeridoo' style…

Aboriginal Didgeridoo-style Tobacco Pipe (56cm)

Early 1900's Aboriginal tobacco pipe a long 'Didgeridoo' style pipe. Not often seen. 56 cm

Didgeridoo, Aboriginal ceremonial instrument, decorated with…

Aboriginal Decorated Didgeridoo - 93 cm Length

Didgeridoo, Aboriginal ceremonial instrument, decorated with spears and turtles, with natural pigments, length 93 cm

Fine large Arnhem land didgeridoo, Northern Territory. Carved…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoo with Totemic Designs

Fine large Arnhem land didgeridoo, Northern Territory. Carved hardwood and natural pigments. Painted with totemic designs and fine hatchwork in white, yellow and red ochres. Approx length 158 x 12.5 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales.

A didgeridoo with Ochre design, Northern Australia, length 106.…

Ochre Didgeridoo from Northern Australia (7 words)

A didgeridoo with Ochre design, Northern Australia, length 106.5 cm

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Territory, length 128 cm…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoos: Lengths of 128cm and 142cm

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Territory, length 128 cm and 142 cm

Two didgeridoos, length 95 cm and 137 cm

Two Didgeridoos: 95cm and 137cm Lengths

Two didgeridoos, length 95 cm and 137 cm

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Australia, length 114 cm…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoos: Lengths from 114-121cm

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Australia, length 114 cm to 121 cm

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Australia, condition:…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoos with Minor Damage

Two didgeridoos, Arnhem land, Northern Australia, condition: small crack and hole in one, length 90 cm to 113 cm

An old Aboriginal didgeridoo, traditionally carved from one…

Antique Aboriginal Didgeridoo with Diamond Pattern

An old Aboriginal didgeridoo, traditionally carved from one piece of wood. Most paint remains in a fine diamond panelled pattern. Length 123 cm. Provenance: Reputedly collected c.1900 by an outback surveyor.

Takacs Australia ceramic figure seated Aboriginal man playing a…

Seated Aboriginal Man Playing Didgeridoo

Takacs Australia ceramic figure seated Aboriginal man playing a didgeridoo, inscribed mark to base, circa 1950s, height 20 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

A didgeridoo (Yidaki), Gove, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory,…

Yidaki Didgeridoo from Arnhem Land, Australia (113cm)

A didgeridoo (Yidaki), Gove, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, purchased by the vendor, Northern Territory, July 1974 113 cm

A didgeridoo with cross hatched painted design, wood and…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoo with Cross Hatched Design

A didgeridoo with cross hatched painted design, wood and natural earth pigments, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory 115 cm long

Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo of typical form, hand painted…

Hand-painted Aboriginal didgeridoo, 116 cm

Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo of typical form, hand painted with natural earth pigments, 116 cm

Aboriginal didgeridoo, painted with natural earth pigments on a…

Painted Bamboo Didgeridoo - Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal didgeridoo, painted with natural earth pigments on a shaft of bamboo, 136 cm long

Four finely painted Hollow Logs and didgeridoos, Arnhem Land,…

Hollow Log and Didgeridoo Collection from Arnhem Land

Four finely painted Hollow Logs and didgeridoos, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, ochre on wood, 173 cm, 141 cm, 134 cm, 106 cm (height) (4)

A didgeridoo with finely executed rarrk cross hatch design in…

Arnhem Land Didgeridoo with Rarrk Design

A didgeridoo with finely executed rarrk cross hatch design in natural ochres. Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. Length 148 cm

Two various Aboriginal items, including Arnhem Land didgeridoo,…

Aboriginal Decorated Items: Didgeridoo & Digging Stick

Two various Aboriginal items, including Arnhem Land didgeridoo, decorated with cross hatched animals; & ochre decorated digging stick. Length 94 cm; length 10 cm

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment…

Aboriginal ochre didgeridoo

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment decoration

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment…

Aboriginal Ochre Didgeridoo

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment decoration

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment…

Aboriginal Ochre Didgeridoo

Early Aboriginal hardwood didgeridoo with ochre pigment decoration

Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo by Leslie Giles

Aboriginal Didgeridoo by Leslie Giles

Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo by Leslie Giles

Aboriginal didgeridoo, gloss painted lizard design

Glossy Lizard Didgeridoo

Aboriginal didgeridoo, gloss painted lizard design

Early Aboriginal Didgeridoo ochre pigment

Aboriginal Didgeridoo Ochre Pigment

Early Aboriginal Didgeridoo ochre pigment

Fine didgeridoo tiwi attribution., Linear design painted…

Tiwi Linear Didgeridoos - 2 Sizes

Fine didgeridoo tiwi attribution., Linear design painted didgeridoo measuring 127 cm. Along with a second didgeridoo measuring 104 cm

Northern Australian Didgeridoo. Gulf marine life decoration.…

Gulf Marine Didgeridoo

Northern Australian Didgeridoo. Gulf marine life decoration. Collected N.T. c.1970. Natural earth pigments on wood. Length 122 cm