Beschreibung:

hoe
Wood with dark brown, original unpolished patina
Length 38 1/2in (98cm)
Provenance
Hamilton Fish Family, Connecticut, since 1841
Walter Randel, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner
While the use of this paddle is unknown, in view of the delicateness and fragility, one can easily hypothesize that it was not intended for sea. The row of figures along the flat, bladed pommel (versus the more common rounded Austral paddle) are reminiscent of figures more commonly seen on Austral Islands drums. (Cf. Kjellgren, Eric, Oceania: Art of the Pacific Islands in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007, fig. 181, formerly in the James Hooper Collection)
Another paddle, also in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, shows a similar flat, rectangular design, but with three rounded handles above (Ibid., fig. 182, formerly in the collection of William Oldman).
Cf. Hurst, Norman, Circle of the Sea: Creations from Oceania, Museum of Natural History, Providence, Rhode Island, 2002, Cat. 6 for a similar hoe with similar rectangular pommel carved with dancing figures.