Auctions of Asmat ancestral skulls continue

Hermann Historica International Auctions in Munich, Germany, is known to have auctioned a number of Asmat ancestral skulls.

Hermann Historica specialises in the sale of historical items (old arms, antiquities, decorations, and World War II German collectibles but also on the trade in ancestral skulls. RM* found nine skulls that had been sold in 2022 and 2023.

  • On 22 October 2022, Hermann Historica auctioned three skulls decorated with shells [lots 448, 449, 450], the price varying from 4,200 to 5,800 euro.
  • On 30 January 2023, Hermann Historica auctioned two Papua New Guinean ancestor skull of the Asmat [lots 6507 and 6508], the price varying from 2,100 to 6,600 euro.
  • On 6 May 2023, four skulls [lots 334, 335, 336, 337] were auctioned, the yield varying from 1,050 to 8,200 euro.