Identification of this oar please.

LJ · 11th December 2015, 01:00 PM

I've never seen anything like it, but I've checked the online database of the Pitt Rivers Museum and they list a paddle from Ghana with a three-pronged blade. The British Museum appear not to have one, according to their online database.

TomHurstAntiques · 12th December 2015, 02:02 PM

Thank you very much for the help. I think it probably is Ghana. Thanks.

VANDOO · 12th December 2015, 07:59 PM

THERE IS SOMETHING VERY MUCH LIKE IT BUT WITHOUT THE PAINT ON EBAY CURRENTLY. IT IS 141 CM. LONG AND IDENTIFIED AS A POLYNESIAN PADDLE CLUB <OCEANIC/ AUSTRAL-ASIAN. MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE THIS IS NOT FOR ACTUAL USE AS A PADDLE BUT USED FOR CEREMONIAL DANCES AND LIKELY IS PART OF A TRIBAL STORY OR LEGEND. IT WOULD NO DOUBT REPRESENT SOME ANCESTOR OR GOD AND THE SHAPE AND COLORS USED HAVE CEREMONIAL MEANING. SUCH ITEMS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS DANCE PADDLES.

VANDOO · 14th December 2015, 07:40 PM

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PIN THIS DOWN BUT MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE IN THE ISLANDS NORTH OF NEW GUINEA PERHAPS IN THE BOUGANVILLE GROUP. I WILL TRY AND POST PICTURES OF THE OTHER EXAMPLE WHEN THE AUCTION ENDS.

David · 14th December 2015, 10:13 PM

So, i don't know anything about these, but are they intended to be any kind of weapon? If not then perhaps this post belongs in the Ethnographic Miscellania forum.

Robert · 14th December 2015, 10:22 PM

Quote:

So, i don't know anything about these, but are they intended to be any kind of weapon? If not then perhaps this post belongs in the Ethnographic Miscellania forum.

A very good point David. I will now move this to the proper forum.

Best,
Robert

VANDOO · 14th December 2015, 10:40 PM

THIS SORT OF ITEM OFTEN EVOLVED FROM A WEAPON OR FROM A STORY WHERE SOMETHING WAS USED AS A WEAPON. THE STORY OF THE SAMURAI MUSASHI USING A BOAT OAR TO FASHION HIS WEAPON FOR ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS DUELS COMES TO MIND. THERE ARE CEREMONIAL PADDLES, SPEARS, CLUBS, AXES, BEARING SWORDS, ECT.
THOUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NO LONGER INTENDED FOR USE AS A WEAPON OF WAR THEY DO REPRESENT THEM IN A WAY. ETHNOGRAPHIC TOOLS OR WEAPONS OFTEN CROSS OVER AND BECOME PURELY CEREMONIAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC ART .

VANDOO · 19th December 2015, 09:46 PM

AS PROMISED PICTURES OF SIMULAR PADDLE/ CLUB NO LONGER FOR SALE. 141 CM LONG.

19th December 2015, 09:46 PM	#8
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	AS PROMISED PICTURES OF SIMULAR PADDLE/ CLUB NO LONGER FOR SALE. 141 CM LONG. Attached Images

11th December 2015, 01:00 PM	#1
LJ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 93	I've never seen anything like it, but I've checked the online database of the Pitt Rivers Museum and they list a paddle from Ghana with a three-pronged blade. The British Museum appear not to have one, according to their online database.

12th December 2015, 02:02 PM	#2
TomHurstAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 38	Thank you very much for the help. I think it probably is Ghana. Thanks.

12th December 2015, 07:59 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE IS SOMETHING VERY MUCH LIKE IT BUT WITHOUT THE PAINT ON EBAY CURRENTLY. IT IS 141 CM. LONG AND IDENTIFIED AS A POLYNESIAN PADDLE CLUB <OCEANIC/ AUSTRAL-ASIAN. MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE THIS IS NOT FOR ACTUAL USE AS A PADDLE BUT USED FOR CEREMONIAL DANCES AND LIKELY IS PART OF A TRIBAL STORY OR LEGEND. IT WOULD NO DOUBT REPRESENT SOME ANCESTOR OR GOD AND THE SHAPE AND COLORS USED HAVE CEREMONIAL MEANING. SUCH ITEMS ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS DANCE PADDLES.

14th December 2015, 07:40 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PIN THIS DOWN BUT MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE IN THE ISLANDS NORTH OF NEW GUINEA PERHAPS IN THE BOUGANVILLE GROUP. I WILL TRY AND POST PICTURES OF THE OTHER EXAMPLE WHEN THE AUCTION ENDS.

14th December 2015, 10:13 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	So, i don't know anything about these, but are they intended to be any kind of weapon? If not then perhaps this post belongs in the Ethnographic Miscellania forum.

14th December 2015, 10:40 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS SORT OF ITEM OFTEN EVOLVED FROM A WEAPON OR FROM A STORY WHERE SOMETHING WAS USED AS A WEAPON. THE STORY OF THE SAMURAI MUSASHI USING A BOAT OAR TO FASHION HIS WEAPON FOR ONE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS DUELS COMES TO MIND. THERE ARE CEREMONIAL PADDLES, SPEARS, CLUBS, AXES, BEARING SWORDS, ECT. THOUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NO LONGER INTENDED FOR USE AS A WEAPON OF WAR THEY DO REPRESENT THEM IN A WAY. ETHNOGRAPHIC TOOLS OR WEAPONS OFTEN CROSS OVER AND BECOME PURELY CEREMONIAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC ART .