SOLOMON ARCHIPELAGO - Buka Island. - Lot 280

SOLOMON ARCHIPELAGO - Buka Island. Ceremonial paddle made of carved wood and pigment, decorated with a seated figure with raised arms surrounded by a chevron pattern; mounted on a base. 158 x 18 cm Slight signs of wear and partial scorching Provenance: Private collection in Paris. Notes: Used to maneuver canoes, the paddles from the islands of Buka and Bougainville—made from a particularly soft wood—allowed users to cut through the water at high speed. According to Béatrice Blackwood, if a paddle was ornamented, the decorated side faced its user, who was exclusively male. These ornate paddles were often displayed or used as dance props during rituals or weddings. A divine anthropomorphic figure, the kokorra depicted on this paddle is a mythical entity in Solomon Islands culture. Literally, “kokorra” means “man,” but these humanoid effigies were associated with the spirit world, and their depiction thus offered protection to their users.