ceremonial paddle; paddle (water transport: accessories)

Large canoe paddle carved with a sub rectangular blade and cylindrical shaft which terminates in an elaborate carving of three male figures standing one on top of each other. A brass plaque has been screwed onto the blade, which reads “Pagaai Soccer match, HNMS Evertsen 2-HMS Mounts Bay Hollandia NNG 150859”

The shapes of the handle and the paddle are right and it is very probably of Asmat manufacture. HNMS Evertsen was a name given to seven successive ships of the Dutch navy. My guess is that this is the one which was decommissioned in 1957. So it looks as though there is an inter-navy completion and that these objects served as trophies. My guess is that this was in the last days of Dutch colonial presence in Papua.

Collection Information

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