Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Triangular transparent tip with knapped, serrated edges. 7.57 grams, 43 mm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s. Accompanied by an old paper sleeve handwritten by Peter Clayton.

Paddle-shaped club with carved scroll decoration at the top of the blade. 783 grams, 74.2 cm



From the private collection of Frank Hurley (1885-1962), Australian photographer, filmmaker and adventurer. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

The Trobriand Islands are coral atolls off the east coast of New Guinea. The Massim clubs were both for ceremonial use and fighting, and were decorated with scrolls and abstract snake designs. Some of them were connected to sorcery: when a shaman pointed such a club towards someone, it was a death sentence. Frank Hurley worked on Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of 1914-1917, photographing the Endurance whilst being marooned with the rest of the crew. In the 1920s, he mounted various expeditions to Papua New Guinea, which involved filmmaking and collecting on behalf of the Australian Museum and himself. He stored a number of artefacts in a log cabin at Whale Beach, which became an exotic setting for Sydney's glitterati attending raucous parties there in the 1930s. Selling the property after the war, he left the contents of the cabin, which were kept by the new owners, who moved to London in 1959.

Comprising: carved figure with horned headdress, rectangular transverse slot and socket to reverse; separate carved handle with scooped end and socket to one face, slot to edge with metal reinforcement, smooth tapering handle. 1.29 kg total, 47.5-54.5 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Round-section staff decorated with polychrome human and bird figures. 166 grams, 46.5 cm



June Bedford collection of Northwest Coast Art, Phillips sale, London, 20th September, 2000. Ex Romy Rey collection, London, UK. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

V-shaped fossilized walrus jaw bone with engraved high-relief smiling face with a wide nose and closed eyes, radiating lines around the head, two rows of drilled dots to the top, signature 'AV' to the reverse. 845 grams, 18.5 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Broad and shallow with four integral stub feet to the underside and four radiating barrel-shaped handles to the rim; chip-carved herringbone and other ornament to the rim with four inlaid nacre panels. 2.62 kg, 40.2 cm wide



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman.