Wooden paddle, ceremonial club or spear. It has a long cylindrical handle and flat, spatulate blade, rounded to a point at the distal end. Both faces of the blade have a decorative field of incised geometric and scroll designs. The butt is slightly expanded and rounded at the tip. [JC [OPS Move] 18/08/2016]

Collection type: Object
Description: Wooden paddle, ceremonial club or spear. It has a long cylindrical handle and flat, spatulate blade, rounded to a point at the distal end. Both faces of the blade have a decorative field of incised geometric and scroll designs. The butt is slightly expanded and rounded at the tip. [JC [OPS Move] 18/08/2016]
Geographical reference: Papua New Guinea
Oceania > Melanesia > Papua New Guinea; Massim
Person: Field collector Alice Moore; PRM source Ipswich Museum; PRM source Patricia Margaret Maclaren Butler
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1945
Date collected: By 1945
Acquisition information: Purchased: 1966
Materials and processes: Material Wood Plant, Process Carved, Process Incised
Dimensions: Depth: max 20 mm, Width: max 55 mm, Length: max 1270 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1966.1.1244 Other numbers: 1945.157.58
Research and responses: In August 2005 Harry Beran, author and specialist on the art of the Massim area, examined this object and thought it could be a spear, as it is typical in shape to some Massim spears [for full notes see related documents file]. [ZM 2/8/2005]

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