April River, Upper Sepik River, PNG.

All three paddle finials were collected in 1960s-early 1970s, and are carved of garamut wood – the hardest timber available on the Sepik. Garamut is used for all good paddles, especially war paddles, and can easily last a generation. All three are very finely carved with the main features of each being several abstracted birds – which are clan totems.

Mounted on wood blocks.

a) 50 x 9.5 cm

b) 49 x 10 cm

c) 46 x 10.5 cm