Paddle Finial

ClassificationsTools and Equipment-paddles

Culturepossibly Bosman

Date20th Century

Made AtMadang Province, Papua New Guinea

MediumWood

Dimensions6 5/8 × 1 3/8 × 1 3/8 in. (16.8 × 3.5 × 3.5 cm)
In stand: 7 3/4 × 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (19.7 × 3.8 × 3.8 cm)

Credit LineBowers Museum Purchase

Object number2019.10.3

DescriptionCanoe paddles with decorated anthropomorphic finial elements were used to navigate bodies of water surrounding the Sepik River. This specific example is almost certainly from the Ramu River Delta where figures with this distinctive hooked nose and tall conical section on top are seen. Here figures also existed as independent charms. Despite having certain animal characteristics, these finial elements tended to represent people, most often mythological ancestors.

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