A Very Rare Long Maori Paddle ‘Hoe’

Period: Late 18th / Early 19th century

Medium: Wood

Dimension: 217 cm (85³/₈ inches)

Provenance: W.D. Webster, Bicester, no. 1307
Lt. Gen. A.H.L.F. Pitt-Rivers, acquired from the above 1897
Sotheby’s, London, 27th February 1978, lot 53
Ex Peter Adler, London
Ex Private collection

Literature: A fine and very long paddle, probably made for an important ‘war’ canoe. With a carved protective ‘ancestor’ stylised ‘tiki’ figure to the butt. On the blade we can see Webster’s collection number: ‘1307’; and to the reverse ‘impressed’ initials formed from a ‘branding iron’ or ‘stamp’ with the initials of the new owner or sailor who would have deposited the paddle in the ship’s ‘hold’ during the long voyage back to the Europe.

Literature:
Pitt Rivers Ledger, add. 9455, vol. 8, pp. 2248

See: watercolour reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library, add. 9455 vol. 8, pg. 2248