Description:

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, middle Sepik River, Yentchan Village, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A lovely, hand-carved wood canoe paddle presenting a petaloid blade and an elongated shaft that gently tapers to a flattened handle. Intricately carved abstract motifs of geometric and phytomorphic designs adorn the handle, as well as the base of the shaft, while a pair of horizontal, zigzag bands are skillfully incised just below the handle. Size: 8.1" W x 62.6" H (20.6 cm x 159 cm)

Papua New Guinea is known for its extremely rugged terrain. In fact, there are very few roads, and dugout canoes are the primary form of transportation along inland rivers such as the Sepik, the Fly, their tributaries, in addition to the extensive lagoons and swamps such as the Asmat. For this reason, a great deal of time and effort is invested into the creation of canoes and canoe paddles like this example.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#136419

  • Condition: Area of loss to tip of paddle head. A few stable fissures to paddle head. Expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent with nice patina.

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August 18, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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