(CH 305) Ceremonial Paddle.
‘The carved paddles which are so much admired are carved principally with sharks teeth, shells and stones, they still preferring these rude instruments to any of European manufacture.’ Samuel Stutchbury, visitor to Ravavai in 1825.
This paddle is diminutive in size and tightly carved with designs over all surfaces.
The pommel has six female figures performing the Upa Upa dance, they wear large rosettes in their hair.
Little is known as to the function of these paddles although hundreds of examples were collected between the period of 1820 & 1835 during which time the population of the Austral islands dwindled to a handful of people.
Too delicate for actual use they may have been dance objects, it is commonly suggested they were made for a fledgling industry trading them to western travellers. However this is problematic, as the amount of paddles in museums today would have taken a large amount of skilled carvers working constantly on these objects to produce in many sizeable numbers.
The paddle has a deep brown / black glossy patina overall.
Austral Islands, Central Polynesia.
Acquired from the private French collection.
Early 19th Century.
Height. 80Cm.
Custom Mounted.