A Fine Old New Guinea Massim Dance Paddle Trobriand Islands Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea
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| Collection No. | T-5730 |
|---|---|
| Size | Size 91cm x 37.5cm |
A Fine Old New Guinea Massim Dance Paddle Trobriand Islands Milne Bay Province Papua New Guinea
This is a very fine, well-carved, and large Massim Dance Paddle called kai-diba. It consists of two semicircular elements connected by a short bar, which the dancer would have grasped and twirled. The dances in which the paddles were used accompanied ceremonies for harvests, launching a new canoe, and preparations for warfare.
These important dances and ceremonies using kai-diba, were photographed by the famous Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski who did his research resulted in the publication “The Argonauts of the Western Pacific”
The southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea and several off-shore archipelagos—the d’Entrecasteaux, Trobriand Islands, and Marshall Bennett Islands—collectively form the cultural area called Massim. Massim art is best known for the ornamental low-relief carving that is applied to lime spatulas, shields, clubs, Neckrests, and objects for display and ceremonial use, such as canoe prows and dance paddles. Scroll designs are characteristic, as are comma-shaped motifs that suggest the head of a bird with a long down-curving beak.
You can see them being used in these old historic photos, this is important to understand the cultural context of the Dance Paddles’ traditional use. The photo of the dancers is very beautiful and would be very impressive with the music & singing accompanying the Dancers
The shape of these Dance Paddles is unique in New Guinea art & it is one of the most beautiful art objects that the Massim people made & used.
Provenance: Old Collection Australia and The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art
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