Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas | Antiquities Day One - 17th September 2025

Lot 131

Five Papua New Guinea adze blades

Estimate £300 - £500 | Hammer £406

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Description

Five Papua New Guinea adze blades
Melanesia
greenstone and basalt, variously inscribed; two FLY RIVER. NEW GUINEA, 11cm and 14.5cm long; NEW GUINEA, 13.5cm long; NEW GUINEA from Mr. Holmes 1947, 10.2cm long; HIGHLANDS NEW GUINEA, R.C.BERNDT, 12cm long, a New Britain greenstone adze blade, inscribed UANA STATION, LARANGE BAY, 16.4cm long, and an Aboriginal basalt adze blade, inscribed dug up in a suburban garden MELBOURNE, 8.5cm long. (7)

Provenance
Dr Leonard Adam Private Collection (1891 - 1960) Anthropologist and lawyer.