TRIBAL ARTIFACTS AUCTION CAUSES CONCERN

GEOFF VIVIAN

Aboriginal people have expressed concern about a large private collection of tribal artefacts up for auction in Perth today, including 63 Aboriginal items.

While not all of the items are pictured in the catalogue, the collection contains culturally sensitive artefacts that are part of initiated men’s law and therefore not to be seen by women.

They were collected by Port Hedland identity Richard Jupp and some date back to the early 20th Century.

Aboriginal people have asked Ngaarda Media to find out how they were acquired and why they have not been returned

Auctioneers Peter McKenzie said the more culturally-sensitive items were not illustrated online or in the catalogue and kept in a separate room to the other artefacts. 

“No tribal women have viewed them,” he said.

“These were collected by a now deceased collector. He began collecting in in the 1970’s.”

Mr McKenzie said Mr Jupp’s family were the sellers and it was not clear who the artefacts could be returned to. 

“Aboriginal people either abandoned, sold, traded or gifted the items you refer to,” he said.

“Who has a better claim than the family who has kept them safe for around 40 years or so?”