Austral Island Paddle
This is a very fine Austral Islands paddle with a very early provenance. It was collected on a French voyage in 1839 and comes with a copy of a sketch done by the original crew member. The paddle is a beautiful example with the detail and workmanship that make these objects icons of Oceanic art. What set’s this one apart is the quality of the heads that ring the pommel. The piece is a near perfect early example. It dates to the early 19th century, is 42 ½” (108 cm) in height and sells for $9500. You can read all about these paddles in Rhy Richard’s essay "The Austral Islands: History, Art and Art History.”