Aboriginal art and artefact collecting goes back to early first contact times. In fact local Aboriginals around Sydney use to trade artefacts with visiting ships from the earliest days.

Curio collecting has always been part of early exploration of the new world. Ceremonial adornment items that were made of perishable material were not preserved for future use and so early examples are very collectable. Early shields, clubs and boomerangs that were cherished as favourites and had developed a deep colour and patina are preferred.

Historical items that were collected by early notable pioneers, explorers or anthropologists are of high interest to collectors. Some areas are collected because the artistic expression makes them more appealing when displayed.

Production of artefacts has never ceased and are still made today for sale.

Some examples of collectable Aboriginal artefacts are:

30 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Aboriginal artists unknown. Two stone carved message boards,…

Unknown Aboriginal Stone Carvings from Central Australia

Aboriginal artists unknown. Two stone carved message boards, Central Australia one large, flat oval river stone of blue/grey colour, reddened and carved on both sides with groups of ovular and curved lines. Patina and wear from handling 45 x 20 x 1.5 cm.…

Aboriginal artists unknown, two message boards and a…

Aboriginal artists unknown, two message boards and a bull-roarer, two circa early 20th century patinated hardwood message boards, both with extensive fine carving and good patina. Plus a light wood bull roarer with carvings each side and a string to one…

No image available

Aboriginal artist unknown, 'Aboriginal Message Stone,' polished and worked river stone of blue/grey colour, reddened and carved on both sides with spirals and groups of straight and curved lines. Patina and wear from handling. Likely Central Australia. 24…

Early fine incised message stick, Central Australia. Carved and…

Fine Incised Message Stick from Central Australia

Early fine incised message stick, Central Australia. Carved and engraved hardwood and natural pigments. Approx length 21 x 2.5 cm. Provenance: Ex Don Robinson collection B87, New South Wales. Private Collection, New South Wales.

Australian Aboriginal message stick, flattened oval form,…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Earth Pigment Paintings

Australian Aboriginal message stick, flattened oval form, incised & painted with natural earth pigment, length 169 cm. Provenance: Estate of ray Hughes.

Central Australian Aboriginal artefacts. Including two stone…

Aboriginal Artefacts: Stone Knives and Message Sticks

Central Australian Aboriginal artefacts. Including two stone knives, one with detailed label. Also two pyrographed message sticks. Length 19 cm (longest knife)

Two Aboriginal message sticks. with traces of original ochre…

Aboriginal Message Sticks with Original Ochre Decoration

Two Aboriginal message sticks. with traces of original ochre decoration. Very dark age patina length 34 cm & 28 cm

Two wooden message sticks. One flat from central Queensland and…

Perrott Collection: Wooden Message Sticks from Australia

Two wooden message sticks. One flat from central Queensland and the other round from Western Central Australia, both from the Perrott. Collection (R.I.Perrott 1822-1895). Length 19 cm (longest). Collection Dr John Raven, Perth.

Aboriginal carved wood message stick. Incised geometric…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Geometric Carvings

Aboriginal carved wood message stick. Incised geometric decoration. Very fine striated tips. Natural earth pigments, length 64 cm

Two aboriginal sticks, comprising of a Northern Territory…

Aboriginal Digging Stick and Message Stick

Two aboriginal sticks, comprising of a Northern Territory aboriginal digging stick with wear from use and numerous age cracks, 90 cm long and a later message stick 51 cm

Aboriginal message stick, WA. Incised geometric decoration and…

Incised Aboriginal Message Stick with Geometric Decoration

Aboriginal message stick, WA. Incised geometric decoration and natural eath pigment, length 44 cm

Aboriginal message stick, WA Le Grange Bay. Incised geometric…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Geometric Decoration

Aboriginal message stick, WA Le Grange Bay. Incised geometric decoration to one side, length 83 cm

Aboriginal message stick, Tennant Creek. Anular and track…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Anular and Track Decoration

Aboriginal message stick, Tennant Creek. Anular and track decoration. Fire hardened edges, length 75 cm

Aboriginal message stick, Tennant Creek. Anular incised…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Anular Incised Decoration

Aboriginal message stick, Tennant Creek. Anular incised decoration. Natural earth pigments, length 8m

Aboriginal carved wood message stick. Incised geometric…

Aboriginal Geometric Message Stick

Aboriginal carved wood message stick. Incised geometric decoration. Very fine striated tips. Natural earth pigments, length 60 cm

Aboriginal carved message stick, carved with serpent to stick,…

Aboriginal Serpent Carved Message Stick

Aboriginal carved message stick, carved with serpent to stick, purchased Dreamtime gallery, length 23.5 cm

A message stick, carved wood, West Australian origin 98 cm high

West Australian Carved Wood Message Stick (98cm)

A message stick, carved wood, West Australian origin 98 cm high

An Aboriginal Message stick, with painted design, Northern…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Painted Design, Northern Australia

An Aboriginal Message stick, with painted design, Northern Australia, length 69 cm

The Message stick Vehicle, the Aboriginal Art car is dubbed…

Aboriginal Art Car: The Message Stick Vehicle

The Message stick Vehicle, the Aboriginal Art car is dubbed 'The Message Stick Vehicle' and is a timeless Art piece of Australian Aboriginal cultural history adorned with incredible Aboriginal paintings on this one of a kind Ex-military 1961 Land Rover…

ABORIGINAL SCHOOL, two Message sticks and a boomerang, 43 cm,…

Aboriginal School Set: Message Sticks and Boomerang

ABORIGINAL SCHOOL, two Message sticks and a boomerang, 43 cm, 35 cm and 63 cm

Two Message Sticks, South East Australia, carved wood, 40 cm…

Carved Message Sticks from South East Australia

Two Message Sticks, South East Australia, carved wood, 40 cm and 40.2 cm long

Two various Aboriginal message sticks. Older, weathered…

Aboriginal Message Sticks: Carved Hardwood, Weathered and Authentic

Two various Aboriginal message sticks. Older, weathered hardwood with carved message to each side. Length 27 cm (each)

Aboriginal Cylcon. Mildly tapered, oval form with deep incised…

Aboriginal Cyclone Tip Oval Incised V-Shaped Artifact

Aboriginal Cylcon. Mildly tapered, oval form with deep incised tip and 'V' Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 19 cm

Aboriginal large cylcon (message stone). Long, straight…

Aboriginal Cyclone Message Stone

Aboriginal large cylcon (message stone). Long, straight tapering form with groups of incisions. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 42 cm

Aboriginal Message stick or totem. Flattened spindle form with…

Aboriginal Totem Stick

Aboriginal Message stick or totem. Flattened spindle form with chip incised pattern. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 87 cm

Aboriginal Message stick or totem. Flattened spindle form with…

Aboriginal Totem Stick

Aboriginal Message stick or totem. Flattened spindle form with resin and sand markings incl. Sinuous line verso. Provenance: Bungan Castle Museum collection. Length 92 cm

Aboriginal Message stick. Early 20th century. Annular &…

Aboriginal Message Stick with Annular and Straight Markings

Aboriginal Message stick. Early 20th century. Annular & straight markings to each side. Ex Tyrells collection, thence Bungan Castle Museum. Length 34 cm

Three message sticks, Western Australia (early twentieth…

Carved Message Sticks from Western Australia

Three message sticks, Western Australia (early twentieth century), carved hardwood and natural earth pigments, 36.5 cm, 42 cm, 105 cm long

Bullroarer & message stick, Western Australian origin, wood &…

WA Indigenous Instruments: Bullroarer & Message Stick

Bullroarer & message stick, Western Australian origin, wood & hair fibre. Length 40.5 cm & 46.5 cm

Three Aboriginal Message boards mid 20th century, Central…

Aboriginal Message Boards with Geometric Designs

Three Aboriginal Message boards mid 20th century, Central Australia the boards are decorated both sides, with incised circles and geometric designs. Lengths 34 cm. 41 cm & 41.5 cm