Oar, Paddle or ?????

Protector · 1st December 2014, 04:15 AM

I found this in a an antique store in a bin with old canoe paddles and boat oars, with the tag ' Hawaiian paddle?' It seems to me like an extremely un-'seaworthy' paddle, but it does have a South East Pacific look to it. It seems more club like, although it might be fragile for that use. The short shaft/grips patina makes me believe it has not been cut or shortened. It had a slightly crusty/waxy coating on it which I carefully cleaned off with a wood oil soap, but nothing else has been done to it.
Does anyone have any idea what it might be or where it's from??

VANDOO · 2nd December 2014, 12:44 AM

IT APPEARS TO BE A CANOE PADDLE THAT HAS BEEN CUT DOWN THE DESIGN LOOKS OCEANIC SOUTH PACIFIC TO ME BUT I HAVE NO PICTURES OR REFRENCE FOR THE TYPE. THE BISHOP MUSEUM MAY HAVE A GOOD COLLECTION FOR REFRENCE BUT i COULD GET NO HELP FROM THEIR WEBSITE BUT I AM NOT VERY GOOD WITH COMPUTERS.

Kinikini · 2nd December 2014, 01:41 PM

Something tells me it could be Samoan and Maybe it was once a "Club" of some kind but i'm just guessing !

manteris1 · 2nd December 2014, 10:24 PM

It may be a dance club from Samoa...................jimmy

Kinikini · 3rd December 2014, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kinikini

Something tells me it could be Samoan and Maybe it was once a "Club" of some kind but i'm just guessing !

The bold "triangles" remind me of patterns iv'e seen on objects from the Solomon island's and it seems unlikely to be a paddle due to it's "bulky"/"heavy" proportion's.......Although the overall shape seems to suggest it Samoan I would have expected the designs to have been carved or punched into the club, but they have been carved Out of the club, not Into it. I am sure I had something from the Solomon Islands with this design years ago. K

1st December 2014, 04:15 AM	#1
Protector Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Friday Harbor, Wa. Posts: 26	Oar, Paddle or ????? I found this in a an antique store in a bin with old canoe paddles and boat oars, with the tag ' Hawaiian paddle?' It seems to me like an extremely un-'seaworthy' paddle, but it does have a South East Pacific look to it. It seems more club like, although it might be fragile for that use. The short shaft/grips patina makes me believe it has not been cut or shortened. It had a slightly crusty/waxy coating on it which I carefully cleaned off with a wood oil soap, but nothing else has been done to it. Does anyone have any idea what it might be or where it's from?? Attached Images

2nd December 2014, 01:41 PM	#3
Kinikini Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 18	Just a guess Something tells me it could be Samoan and Maybe it was once a "Club" of some kind but i'm just guessing !

2nd December 2014, 12:44 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT APPEARS TO BE A CANOE PADDLE THAT HAS BEEN CUT DOWN THE DESIGN LOOKS OCEANIC SOUTH PACIFIC TO ME BUT I HAVE NO PICTURES OR REFRENCE FOR THE TYPE. THE BISHOP MUSEUM MAY HAVE A GOOD COLLECTION FOR REFRENCE BUT i COULD GET NO HELP FROM THEIR WEBSITE BUT I AM NOT VERY GOOD WITH COMPUTERS.

2nd December 2014, 10:24 PM	#4
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	It may be a dance club from Samoa...................jimmy