Ethnographic Auction

ASIA: BURMA: PAIR of opium weight display bases (1244g), each ca. 46cm long and with 10 display steps of increasing size along its gently curving body

ASIA: BURMA & LAOS: LOT of 9 bronze opium weights, including Burma: 7 lion-type (chinthe) weights, weighing between 31.7g and 1.50g; Kingdom of ...

ASIA: CHINA: AR bracelet (140.27g), Opitz (2011) p.469, Semens p.5, 70 x 53mm, with flared, flattened ends, used by the Hmong-Mien (miáo yá...

ASIA: CHINA (PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC): tea brick (1140g), 24 x 18.5cm, made by China Tea Company at Zhaoliqiao Factory in Hubei Province, Choice VF. D...

ASIA: INDIA: Assam, iron axe (1561g), Opitz p.128, Quiggin p.204, ca. 28.5 x 12cm, known locally as dao, comprising a sharp, lightly curved blade with

ASIA: LAOS: Lanchang (Lan Xang), AR 2 tamlung (116.81g), ca. 1591-1707, 121mm, "tiger tongue" ingot coinage (lat), no stamps, VF to EF.

ASIA: NEPAL: glass bead band (106g), consisting two connected bands (both ca. 30cm in length) made from thousands of red, white, and blue beads woven

ASIA: THAILAND: Lannathai, AR pig mouth money (78.83g), Krisadaolarn & Mihailovs-B11, 44 x 43 x 21mm, cast between 17th and 19th century to a st...

ASIA: THAILAND: Lannathai, AR pig mouth money (32.76g), Krisadaolarn & Mihailovs-B11, 39 x 38 x 18mm, cast between 17th and 19th century to a st...

ASIA: THAILAND: Lannathai, AR tamlung (61.62g), 14th-16th century, Mitch-2753, Krisadaolarn-B702, "chiang" ingot coinage issued by Chiang ...

ASIA: THAILAND: AR bracelet (118.96g), Mitch-2991, Opitz p.282, 67 x 53mm, used by the Lahu, Akha, Lisu hill tribes of northern Thailand and Laos as s

ASIA: THAILAND: AR neck ring, Opitz pg. 284 (plate example), 190mm, somewhat debased silver Hill Tribes neck ring with flattened back-turned ends used

ASIA: THAILAND: stone axe, ancient Thai stone shoulder axe, Fine, ex Paul Dillingham, Charles Opitz Collection.

ASIA/MIDDLE-EAST: TURKEY: coin belt, 175mm, belt with 43 coins on hand woven strip, includes Ottoman Turkish coins of Mahmud II, Abdul Hamid II, and M

ASIA/MIDDLE-EAST: YEMEN: AR telsum necklace (184g), Opitz p.65, consisting of 20 telsums (small boxes, some attached with 3 small pendants) and numero

ASIA/MIDDLE-EAST: YEMEN: silver ornament (188.04g), Opitz (2011) p.386 (plate example), comprising 4 strands of silver beads, connected in the center

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Alor Island, bronze gong (1752g), Opitz p.151 (plate example), Du Bois p.85, ca. 23.5cm wide, used on Alor Island as a part of bri

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Borneo, copper kettle (1179g), ca. 17cm wide and 16.5cm high, complete with a handle and a lid, decorated with simple patterns and

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Borneo: AE buffalo bell (366g), Opitz p.92 (plate example), ca. 120 x 113mm, with wooden clapper, VF, ex Charles Opitz Collection.

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Flores, gold taka pendant (30.01g), Rodgers-105, 84 x 60mm, made from a gold rod with flattened, axe-shaped ends and a waist twist

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Java: LOT of 2 java beads, circa 1000 A.D., 1 ¾" x 1 ¾" very old patina, multi-color stripes, lot of 2 items...

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Sumba & Sumbawa: loda copper chain (175g), Opitz p.205, ca. 175 cm, made from intricately concatenated copper wires, used on...

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Western New Guinea, de glass ring (96.43g), Opitz p.129, 121 x 115mm, a very old example used in western and central New Guinea as

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: Western New Guinea, tobacco stick, Opitz (2011) p.588 (plate example), 29cm-long and 6.3cm-wide at its widest, made from numerous

OCEANIA: INDONESIA: LOT of 3 dimbo glass earrings, Opitz p.136 (plate examples), made in Java ca. 13th century and used as money in the Geelvinck Bay

OCEANIA: MALAY PENINSULA: Perak: LOT of 4 tin ingots, ca. 17th to early 19th century, two mound-type (180g, 46g; cf. SS-1) and two conical type (87g,

OCEANIA: MICRONESIA: Yap, rai stone money (8025g), before 1871, Opitz p.316-321, pre-O'Keefe type, 29.5 x 26 x 8cm (11" x 10¼" x ...

OCEANIA: MICRONESIA: Yap, yar nu au shell money, Opitz p.381, Quiggin p. 143-4, comprising 6 large pearl shells (pinctada margaritafera, each ca. 15cm

OCEANIA: MICRONESIA: yar nu au shell money, Opitz p.381 (plate example), Quiggin p. 143-4, comprising 4 large pearl shells (pinctada margaritafera, ea

OCEANIA: MICRONESIA & SOLOMON ISLANDS: LOT of 9 items, including Micronesia: a large yar nu au shell (Opitz 2011 p.381), made from a large, fan-...

OCEANIA: NEW BRITAIN: shell money, Opitz p.298, consisting of three strings of polished shell beads, each measuring 149cm (53.91g), 136cm (44.38g), an

OCEANIA: NEW BRITAIN: shell disc (92.52g), Opitz p.298, 118 x 114mm, shaped and polished from a single large clam shell, choice VF, ex Charles Opitz C

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: boar tusk, 90mm, Papuan Highlands full circle boar's tusk nose ornament, collected in 1930 as part of the Kaake Colle...

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: boar tusk & shell breast plate, 46cm, Kubkain boar tusks with large scalloped shell and cowry shells, 18" length...

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: boar tusk (33.16g), Opitz p.87, Quiggin p. 125-6, 98mm wide, almost fully circular, a well-preserved example with no cracks

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: boar tusk (50.21g), Opitz p.87 (plate example), 97mm, full circle plus 1/8 boar tusk, crack at tip and in middle, used as m

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: boar tusk (57.45g), Opitz p.87, consisting of a pair of semicircular tusks (108mm & 98mm in diameter) affixed to a ra...

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: cassowary feather, Opitz p.103, consisting of a bunch of feathers ca. 20-30cm long, bound together at the end with tree sap

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: conus shell necklace, 62mm plus length of cord, conus shell whorl attached to native fiber, EF, ex Charles Opitz Collection

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: kina shell (197.38g), Opitz (2011) p.285 (plate example), 20 x 17cm, crescent-shaped gold lip shell, decorated on the front

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: kina shell (330.35g), Opitz p.177 (plate example), 22 x 17.5cm, crescent-shaped gold lip shell, colored with red ochre powd

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: mwali arm shell ring (847g), Opitz p.233, also known as toea, comprising a large cross section of the conus shell (96mm wid

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: nassa shell bridal belt, consisting of a 87cm-long woven belt with 3 large and 2 small pendants, covered with nassa shells

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: salt bar (1195g), Opitz (2011) p.482 (plate example), Opitz p.292, ca. 66 x 10.5 x 6cm, wrapped in banana leaves and bound

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: wooden figurine (92.89g), Opitz p.249 (plate example), 117 x 80 x 31mm, carved boar with two sets of tusks, a section of fr

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: woven bracelet, made from native fiber, used as a decoration many years ago, before the natives realized that these plastic

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: woven shell bracelet, 80mm, band woven from lily root decorated with two rings of nassa shells, EF, RR, ex Charles Opitz Co

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 16 boar tusk items, including two pairs of conjoined tusk ornaments, an example affixed on an old display plaque, tw

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 2 conus shell necklaces, Opitz p.117, Quiggin fig.73, 54cm and 68cm-long respectively, consisting of numerous shell

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 2 kina shells, both crescent-shaped shells ca. 18cm wide and golden in color, attached with strings with nassa shell

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 3 nassa shell belts, Opitz (2011) p.379 (plate examples), 56cm, 50cm, and 30.5cm-long respectively, made with numero

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 6 nassa shell belts, Opitz (2011) p.379-80, including two belts (43cm & 52cm long, the latter with several tri...

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 6 nassa shell belts, Opitz (2011) p.379-80 (some plate examples), including one belt (50cm long), a diamond-shaped h

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 8 nassa shell money, comprising several types with different methods of production, including one with 3 rows of she

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 10 items, a very interesting mix from different locations, including New Ireland: a manum ornament (also called kapu

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LOT of 8 items, including 2 bone bosu sticks (lime spatula); 3 dogtooth ornaments, with one head ornament (affixed on a rat

OCEANIA: PAPUA NEW GUINEA & SOLOMON ISLANDS: LOT of 3 rattles, including Trobriand Islands: string of rattle seed beads (Opitz 2011 p.98 plate e...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: Choiseul Island, bakhia ornament (587g), Opitz p.29 (plate example), consisting of a 17cm carved stone disc carefully fitted

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: Malaita Island, rongo shell money (16.98g), 18th century, Opitz p.301, ca. 56cm in circumference, consisting of numerous gro

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: armband shell money, 170x95mm, Malaita & Eastern Solomons armband shell money discs in decorated pattern with hibuscus...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: conch shell armband (83.05g), ca. 85mm, thick ring with smooth, well-crafted surface, choice VF, ex Charles Opitz Collection

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: cone shell ring, 74mm, shell ring with 2 3/4" diameter decorative relief on outer edge, VF, ex Charles Opitz Collecti...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: fossilized clam armlet (240g), Opitz p. 298, 110 x 20mm, made from fossilized clam shell, lovely example with fine workmansh

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: kesa shell (107g), Opitz p.174, 65mm wide & 47mm tall, made on Choiseul Island from the shell of a sea worm, an import...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: LOT of 2 pieces of Melawei clam shell ring, sizes are 102mm and 108mm (4") in diameter, lot of 2 items, ex Charles Op...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: sapi-sapi shell money (80.22g), Opitz p.294, numerous small shell discs on two strings measuring 224cm in total length, used

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: shell & dog teeth necklace (218g), Opitz p.132, more than 3 meters in circumference, made from numerous small shell di...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: shell money (5.31g), 37cm, consisting of numerous small white shell discs on a string, VF, ex Charles Opitz Collection.

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: tafuliae' shell money, Opitz pg. 330 (plate), 292cm (115") in length, large tafuliae' from the Malaita Island...

OCEANIA: SOLOMON ISLANDS: wooden comb (58.77g), 205 x 82mm, EF, ex Charles Opitz Collection.

OCEANIA: TIMOR: AR ornament set, Opitz p.136, consisting of 4 silver earrings from Timor Island, once used as bridewealth payment, secured on blue fel

OCEANIA: TIMOR: AR ornament set, Opitz p.136, consisting of 4 silver earrings from Timor Island, once used as bridewealth payment, secured on purple f

OCEANIA: TIMOR: AR ornament set, Opitz p.136 (plate example), consisting of 4 silver earrings from Timor Island, once used as bridewealth payment, sec

OCEANIA: WESTERN NEW GUINEA: shell ring money (136.45g), 88 x 82mm, attached with woven band with six small shells and long string, a very old specime

OCEANIA: WESTERN NEW GUINEA: shell ring (171g), 105 x 8mm, made in Baigisewer village near Sarmi ca. 19th century, VF, ex Charles Opitz Collection.

WORLDWIDE: ASIA & EUROPE: LOT of 43 diverse items, including among others Asia-China: a jade ornament in the shape of a traditional lock (56 x 5...

WORLDWIDE: PACIFIC & AFRICA: LOT of 8 stone items, including Pacific: a one-handed miniature replica Yap stone (ca. 40mm wide), made for tourist...

WORLDWIDE: PACIFIC & AFRICA: LOT of 8 woven items, including Papua New Guinea: 4 items made from braided lily root, including a set of 10 yellow...

WORLDWIDE: LOT of 20 diverse items, including among others Africa: a German East Africa copper coil money, 2 Namibia small twisted silver ring money (

WORLDWIDE: LOT of 15 items, including Africa: a short string of ancient Egyptian amulets; two strings of Borjookes glass beads (12 blue & 6 red ...

WORLDWIDE: LOT of 8 items from across the world, including United States: 2 strings of California wampum beads (one made from polished discs of olive

WORLDWIDE: LOT of 8 diverse items, including Africa: 24cm wooden comb with iron spikes and geometric patterns, 10 cowrie shell segments from Nigeria,

LITERATURE: Opitz, Charles J. An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money: A Definition of Money and Descriptions of Traditional Money, Ocala, 2000, 41