Paddle Finials from Sepik River
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
This item has been included into following indexes:
-
New Guinea tribal artefacts
- canoe prows and paddles 263
- other artefacts 1,213
Visually similar items
Six figurative paddle finials, lower Sepik river, Papua New Guinea. Length 32 cm
A Chinese carved boxwood ruyi and an Incomplete rosewood ruyi, the boxwood ruyi, late 19th/early 20th century, with a rolled-over head relief-carved with a dragon and a foot with foliage, the shaft and centre carved and pierced with dragons, deer, a phoeni
Monty Noble's walking stick handle, possibly buffalo horn.
Rare wahaika 19th century, male carved figure to back with long protruding tongue, four ridges to butt, square hole, length 35 cm. Provenance: Neil Darroch collection, formerly E.B. Williams collection, Hastings (early 20th century). Ref 90