1) Always ask about the provenance of a tribal artefact. If it was collected prior to 1960, it could be a good traditional piece. Tourist art and artefacts produced in the 1960s and 1970s are generally of poor quality and are not sought after.

2) Check for evidence of non-traditional tool use e.g. metal files or drills. Tourist boomerangs usually show evidence of being cut and shaped with saws and rasp files. Artefacts with burnt wire designs were made for tourists and are generally not sought after.

3) Artefacts showing representations of animals were generally (but not always) made for the tourist market. Be careful when buying artefacts bearing emus, kangaroos, snakes, and birds of paradise etc.

4) Check for patina and signs of usage. Artefacts showing patina and wear are generally good.

5) Check the quality of the wood or stone. Tourist artefacts are generally made with soft, light easily carved material.

6) Be careful when buying expensive "high profile" artefacts such as aboriginal breastplates or sacred stones (Churinga) as these have been extensively faked.

7) There are some artefacts that are mistakenly believed to have value, but are in fact very common. Examples include: New Guinea bows and arrows (sometimes wrongly called spears), Aboriginal stone axes, Ebony artefacts from the Trobriand and Solomon is and MT. Hagan axes from PNG.

8) When buying Aboriginal dot and bark paintings make sure they are from NT. (Central Desert, Arnhem land, Tiwi / Bathurst IS.) or WA. (Kimberly region-Turkey Creek, Balgo etc.) only, dot and bark paintings from other areas are generally not sought after.

9) Keep an eye out for dot paintings done in the 1970s. These are generally painted on masonite, fibreboard or artist board. These can be valuable.

If you enjoyed or found this guide helpful please visit our online gallery of Australian Aboriginal and Melanesian Tribal Art at www.godstick.com