Online catalogue for the 63rd tribal art auction with special part 'wunderkammer'

161 Hooked boomerang

This object is not available any more.

Australia

hard wood with red ochre, flat biconvex cross-section, the smaller hook-shaped arm forming the beating part, fluted carving, old collection number "A II" at the bottom, slightly dam.; called "swan neck", used as traditional weapon and hunting boomerang as well, used for hunting birds, by throwing the boomerang into flocking birds.

L: 74 cm, ~ 1900
L: 29.1 inch, ~ 1900

Literature
Brüll, M., Die Kultur der Traumzeit, Museum für Völkerkunde Freiburg o. J., p. 63, ill. 49

Price: 500 - 1000 €

162 Big boomerang

This object is not available any more.

Australia

wood, reddish brown patina, curved in a wide and flat bow, the upper surface convex with fluted pattern, the lower surface flat and smooth, old collection number "A 01", slightly dam.; Australian boomerangs were developed from throwing sticks and clubs and were hurled at enemy or prey. But the boomerang had many other uses as well: it served to clear the grasses and soil to prepare camp sites and ceremonial grounds; it was used as a poker and shovel when cooking; the sharp end of a hardwood boomerang was sometimes used for cutting up food. Boomerangs were used for fire making and for ceremonial purposes.

L: 92 cm, ~ 1900
L: 36.2 inch, ~ 1900

Literature
Carrick, John (ed.), Art of the first Australians, Ausst.kat., Camperdown o.J., p. 22

Price: 800 - 1600 €

163 Boomerang

This object is not available any more.

Australia

hardwood, reddish brown patina, customary but irregular form, fornt side with incised undulated decor, slightly dam.

L: 66 cm, ~ 1900
L: 26 inch, ~ 1900

Price: 450 - 900 €

164 Boomerang

This object is not available any more.

Australia

wood, light and reddish brown patina, lense-shaped in cross section, curved in a wide bow, slightly dam., missing part (one end)

L: 80,5 cm, ~ 1900
L: 31.7 inch, ~ 1900

Price: 400 - 800 €

165 Boomerang

This object is not available any more.

Australia

wood, reddish brown patina, curved in a wide and flat bow, the upper surface convex with fluted pattern, the lower surface flat and smooth, slightly dam., missing parts (left end)

L: 73,5 cm, ~ 1900
L: 28.9 inch, ~ 1900

Price: 500 - 1000 €

166 Fighting club

This object is not available any more.

Australia

hardwood, reddish brown patina, describing a flat bow, round in cross-section, tapering towards both endings, fine fluted surface, old collection label "War Club..." (the rest unreadable), old collection number "A 13", slightly dam., cracks

L: 76 cm, ~ 1900
L: 29.9 inch, ~ 1900

Price: 400 - 800 €

167 Two hunting clubs

This object is not available any more.

Australia

hardwood, red and dark brown patina, both of them round in cross section with tapering endings, one of the clubs with old collection label "Hunting Club...", min. traces of insect caused damage, cracks, paint rubbed off

L: 67 und 72 cm, ~ 1900
L: 67 und 28.3 inch, ~ 1900

Literature
Davies, S. M., Collected - 150 Years of Aboriginal Art and Artifacts at the Macleay Museum, Sidney 2002, p. 89

Price: 450 - 900 €

168 Drone-pipe "ebroo"

This object is not available any more.

Australia, Kimberley

from the wood of a hollowed eucalyptus tree (d: 3,5 cm), polychrome painted, reddish brown base, decorated with animalistic and vegetable motifs in black paint, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off in some areas, places of repair (wax-like mass); used as rhythmical accompanying instrument for songs and dances. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia at least 1500 years ago and is still in widespread usage today. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as a brass aerophone.

L: 79,5 cm, ~ 1900
L: 31.3 inch, ~ 1900

Literature
Davies, S. M., Collected - 150 Years of Aboriginal Art and Artifacts at the Macleay Museum, Sidney 2002, p. 24

Price: 250 - 500 €

169 Club "patu wahaika"

This object is not available any more.

New Zealand, Maori

light brown wood, blackish brown patina, flat tongue-shaped corpus, carved with a small stylized figure on the inside of the blade, entirely coated with incised linear ornaments, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; "patu" is the generic name for all short spatulate weapons, "wahaika" means fish mouth. Such clubs were used for combat and for ritual dances, where they were swayed to and fro in sham battles. They were part of the chiefly seigniorage and were worn at the belt.

H: 36 cm, ~ 1880/1890
H: 14.2 inch, ~ 1880/1890

Literature
Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. II, Köln 1995, p. 563, ill. 651

Sold.

170 Chief's staff "taiaha"

This object is not available any more.

New Zealand, Maori

veined wood, reddish brown patina, lense-shaped in cross-section with spatula end showing a Janus face with a protruding tongue, binding with plaited cord material upholstered with fabric, tassels of dog hair, slightly dam., minor missing parts, cracks at the base; all highly born Maori males carried such staffs as insignia of rank. Besides "taiahas" were also used to emphasize points of oratory, for hand-to-hand combat, and in ceremonial displays. The movements associated with "taiaha" usage as a fighting weapon were carefully taught according to fixed rules.

L: 173 cm
L: 68.1 inch

Literature
Wardwell, Allen, Island Ancestors, Oceanic Art from the Masco Collection, University of Washington Press 1994, ill. 89

Sold.