Gibban

One of my must visit places when I eventually get to Maine is the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor. Over the years, it has had very informative displays and events showcasing the Wabanaki canoe culture. One of their 2015 exhibits (set to close on December 19th) is Coming Home. The museum was able to borrow various Wabanaki items from various ethnological collections residing outside of Maine. One of the beautiful paddles on loan for their display is a very interesting paddle from the American Museum of Natural History:  Catalog No: 50.1/ 7780 Culture: MALISEET, PASSAMAQUODDY Material: WOOD, PIGMENT, WIRE (MODERN) Dimensions: L:127.5 W:13 [in CM] Accession No: 1914-4 Full Source Link  I've always been curious about this paddle. The surface has weathered into what looks to be a greyish layer and the grip has very unique carvings right through the wood. Another different element is the paddle's length - a very short 127.5cm (roughly 50 inches). I always thought my paddles (58") were...

The December list of current items on CherryGallery.com feature more vintage paddles up for sale. This single lot of eight paddles comes from Maine. A few have been painted and carved with distinct grip styles, very similar to the classic Penobscot "step grip". They date between 1850-1900 and vary from 63" to 76" in length. What a beautiful collection! Native American Canoe Paddles These eight paddles were collected over a number of years by a couple who recently sold their Maine home and its contents. They are all early, Native American-made canoe paddles with sculptural form and appealing surface. Circa 1850-1900 from 63" - 76" high  (priced individually or in lots -  info@cherrygallery.com for more) CherryGallery's monthly post also features a pair of miniature paddles with some lovely etching decorations. Pair of Model Canoe Paddles  The incised-carved decoration on these handmade canoe paddles is very similar to the traditional decoration on Pe...