An Austral Islands dance paddle Polynesia carved wood

An Austral Islands dance paddle

Polynesia

carved wood, with suns, 'X's', crescents and chevrons, with eight dancing girls to the top with zig-zags and suns to their heads, on a short shaft to a leaf shape blade, the flat side with three undecorated rows, early 19th century,

83.5cm long.

Provenance

Collected by the present owners father in India whilst serving in the British Army during WWII.