Modelled in the round with detailed head and face on a curved column. 828 grams, 20.5 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Broad domed base with three radiating ribbed legs supporting a dished plaque. 690 grams, 11 cm



From a family collection mostly formed in the 1940s-1950s, thence by descent.

Lentoid in section and fish-shaped in profile with usage wear. 571 grams, 27.4 cm



Found Waskuk Hills, Upper Sepik, Papua New Guinea, Oceania, prior to WWI. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no. AA26; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

With lozenge-section shank, single lateral spurs and stepped pointed tang. 7.3 grams, 12.8 cm



From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

Lentoid in section D-shaped jade axehead; Ngemba culture of New South Wales. 680 grams, 13.2 cm



From New South Wales, Australia. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no. AA6; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an illustrated catalogue information sheet.

An Oceanic fish-hook comprising a D-section wooden shank with polished shell panel (the lure) and barbed bone hook attached with twine. 15.9 grams, hook: 90 mm



From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

This Maori trolling lure fish hook (pā kahawai) comprises three pieces – a worked piece of polished haliotis or paua shell attached to a curved, wooden shank, and then a carved long barb. Each of the segments is held in place by tightly bound muka fibre. Such lures were used by the Maori to fish for sea salmon (kahawai). The lure would be dragged behind a fast-moving canoe to attract the prey with the haliotis shell glinting in the sun to emulate the scales of fish to attract larger fish. The technique of using a trolling lure was a Polynesian fishing technique that was brought to New Zealand by the Maori and adapted using local materials.

With barrel-shaped glass beads, centrepiece a bronze mode scorpion. 70 grams, 60 cm long



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Comprising: two white silicified claystone scrapers from Andamooka, S. Australia; a diorite chopper from Parramatta River, Sydney, S.W. Australia; a part-polished axehead from Brewarrina, N.S.W., Australia. 520 grams total, 54-92 mm



From New South Wales, Australia. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; with collection no.15, 21, 30, 31; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

With barbed head, lentoid-section shank, lateral spurs, tapered rear; remains of a very old label with legend '1[8]80'. 24 grams, 17 cm



From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

Cylindrical peg with stylised anthropomorphic head detailing, button eyes, segmented ledge beard, slit mouth, segmented fringe above. 254 grams, 13.8 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Formed from a slender long bone with crenellated head and smoothed shank, incised ring-and-dot ornament; repaired. 17 grams, 19 cm



From a family collection mostly formed in the 1940s-1950s, thence by descent.

Various types, one with old collector's label 'Big Healing Figure / Sepik Papua New Guinea / 1970 purchase / New Guinea Tribal Art / Netherlands'. 1.68 kg total, 5.8-14.5 cm



Acquired 1970. From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.