unknown Massim
Primary

Kaidebu (Dance Paddle)

19th century - 20th century

33 3/4 in. x 12 1/4 in. x 1 in. (85.73 cm x 31.12 cm x 2.54 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• Massim Area - Describes the culture and style of the inhabitants of the Massim area. Men of the Massim tend to focus on decorating betel-chewing equipment, wooden bowls, stirring spoons, canoe paddles, dance shields, and combs with designs. Women focus on making pottery, banana and coconut leaf skirts, and woven pandanus leaf mats.
• Melanesian - Describes the culture and style of the inhabitants of the Melanesian Islands. Melanesians are well known for creating sculptures utilizing a vast range of media, their traditional communal architecture, and body arts.
• Oceanic - Cultures and styles of various regions in Oceania, comprising islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean (generally excluding Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines), but including Australia.
• paddles - Relatively short, slender shafts,usually having with a handle at one end and a flat round-tipped blade at the other, used by people pushing the device through water in a vertical manner in order to propel small boats; may be double-ended; for longer but similar devices with flat-tipped blades, use "oars."
• Papua New Guinea
• Trobriand Island