Description

Wooden ceremonial paddle. The paddle consists of a forked, elliptical-shaped end with two small, inward facing notches, an intricately carved wooden middle section which extends out from the neck of the paddle in a rectangular shape, and a top section consisting of woven fibres covering the wooden neck and attached strings of multi-coloured seeds and various feathers. The seeds are grey-blue, white and red-grey in colour and are strung along one edge of the woven fibre casing, forming small loops from which the ends of the white and brown feathers are attached. The mid-section of the paddle is indicative of a paddle blade, with eight cuts through the wood in half moon shapes and incised with v-shaped patterns, winding lines and curled abstract motifs. Extending in either direction from the centre are incised abstract shapes generally following an elaborate v-shaped pattern. The forked end of the paddle is carved in the shape of an elongated half oval and is undecorated.