The Professor’s Collection Part One Reveals Rare Indigenous Artifacts at Auction
A curated selection from The Professor’s Collection Part One, featuring rare artifacts from the Pacific Islands and Pre-Columbian cultures. Highlights include a Costa Rican metate, feather currency from the Solomon Islands, and carved war shields from Pap
Crafted from thousands of vivid red feathers sourced from the scarlet honeyeater, this ceremonial currency was used in high-value exchanges in the Santa Cruz Islands. The birds were not harmed in large numbers; only a few feathers were taken from each one
Used by the Dayak people of Borneo, this carved and painted wooden shield features bold geometric designs and symbolic facial imagery. Such shields were functional in battle and spiritually charged, believed to offer protection from both physical and supe
Objects gathered through decades of research and travel to be offered by Blue Box Auction Gallery
NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES, June 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Blue Box Auction Gallery announces the release of The Professor’s Collection Part One, a global auction event featuring rare Pacific and Pre-Columbian artifacts assembled over a lifetime of academic study and cultural exploration. The sale offers institutions, collectors, and researchers access to material that rarely reaches the open market, including ceremonial objects, symbolic figures, and carved ritual tools.The story behind the collection begins with a young boy in Texas who developed an early fascination with world cultures. At age 13, he began studying Spanish. By 15, he had boarded a plane alone to Mexico, where he acquired his first Pre-Columbian artifact. That formative experience sparked a lifelong interest in languages, traditions, and the tangible expressions of human identity.
His academic career would span multiple disciplines and continents. He earned master’s degrees in Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese, and studied the literature, customs, and spiritual practices of Indigenous and colonial cultures across the globe. Over time, his collection grew to include Oceanic art, particularly objects from Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Travel to places like Vanuatu, Nepal, the Solomon Islands, Guatemala, and the Bering Strait informed his understanding of both cultural uniqueness and shared humanity.
This first installment includes carved war shields from Papua New Guinea, Dayak shaman staffs from Borneo, Pre-Columbian ceremonial vessels, and painted storyboards used to pass down clan memory. The items reflect cultural roles ranging from conflict and healing to storytelling and spiritual continuity. Most were acquired directly from their regions of origin through fieldwork, research travel, or local artisans and scholars.
Unlike typical private collections, these objects were never intended for decoration or investment. They were gathered for study, for teaching, and for preservation. Many were used in classroom settings and academic presentations. The professor viewed collecting as a form of stewardship rather than ownership, with each item valued for its role in communicating cultural history.
The auction is the first in a series of sales that will continue to release objects from the professor’s broader holdings. Future auctions within this series will include artifacts and fine objects from Asia, fine art and religious pieces, as well as militaria from around the world. Each auction will be carefully curated to reflect the depth and diversity of the collection.
Preview appointments are available at Blue Box Auction Gallery’s Norfolk, Virginia location, where prospective bidders can view objects in person. The full catalog is available online, including detailed descriptions, professional photographs, and registration information. Condition reports are available to approved bidders upon request.
The auction for The Professor’s Collection Part One will take place on June 27th, 2025, at 5:15pm EST. For more information, visit www.BlueBoxAuction.com.
Jim Weigl
Blue Box Auction Gallery
email us here
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