Description

Painted miniature canoe paddle.

Longer Description

Painted miniature canoe paddle. The paddle has been carved from a single piece of wood, likely cedar. The top of the handle is rounded. A brick-red pigment is visible on the rounded portion and just below. The handle then widens slightly and is painted black before tapering in and forming a long, rounded, unpainted shaft that extends to the blade or the paddle. The blade widens and becomes flatter towards the end. Near the handle, the blade is painted black. Below this is a red line, followed by a black line and then a larger central section painted brick red with short black lines. A black line is painted under the red, followed by a red triangular-shaped outline. The end is rounded in a semicircular shape, except for a small portion of the sides which angle more severely to meet the widest point of the blade. The end is decorated with black paint and red dashed lines. The painting is the same on both sides of the paddle. [CAK 30/04/2009]

Research Notes

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This paddle was viewed alongside other paddles on Tuesday Sept 15, 2009. Delegates thought this was a model paddle made for play, especially as it showed marks of wear. It was suggested that all the miniature paddles viewed were models, or used for play. Christian White thought this looked like a model steering paddle because of the width and curved blade. Candace Weir also mimed spooning something into her mouth with this object, as well as 1928.59.29 - .30. See also 1928.59.29 and 1928.59.30. [CAK 18/05/2010]

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - Mr J.T. Hooper ... Littlemore, Oxon - [1 of] 3 miniature painted canoe-paddles, HAIDA, N.W. AMERICA. ... Pd by cheque 4 June 1928 £7-5-6

There is no further information on the catalogue card. [CW 8 6 98]

Written on object - HAIDA pur. 4.6.1928 [CAK 30/04/2009]

Related Documents File [James Thomas Hooper, Catalogue of Ethnographical Material] - The museum has a photocopy of Hooper's accession and dispersal records, which are bound as two volumes and kept in a separate box file. Items are arranged according to Hooper's own numbering system [RTS 21/11/2003].

Related Documents File - The Haida Project Related Documents File contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]