Waddington's is currently hosting an online auction of Historic First Nations Art closing on December 5, 2024 at 2pm EST. Included in the collection are three stunning canoe paddles with an impressive provenance. Lot 14 is a pair of Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) paddles featuring extensive double curved etchings on the blades.
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
Although one of the paddles has some damage along the exterior edge, the blades are not cracked and intricate etching motifs are wonderfully executed by a skilful hand. Existing paddles with these elaborate double curved motifs are indeed very rare with just a few scattered in museum collections around the world.
Lot 14 - Closeup of blades
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
The elongated handles with graceful scalloped edges are marked with an inscription, "Ida" and are etched with the dates 1898 and 1899 on the reverse sides.
Lot 14 - Scalloped grips with inscription
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
The paddles belonged to William T. Chestnut and his wife Ida and hung in the Chestnut family cottage at Robertson's Point on Grande Lake, Jemseg NB. William was of course one of the brothers responsible for the establishment of the famed Chestnut Canoe Company and was an avid outdoorsman and canoeist well before the establishment of the canoe business. The paddles fit the profile of being carved by nearby Maliseet artisans from Kingsclear First Nation.
Lot 15 is another Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) paddle of a different form and dimension.
56.25 x 4.5 x 1 in — 142.9 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
The blade features an etching of a nature scene with birds nesting surrounded by a leafy border.
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
The slightly stretched grip bears another decorative etching and is inscribed "W. Chestnut". The paddle shows evidence of some in-water use including a slightly worn tip but is in remarkable condition.
56.25 x 4.5 x 1 in — 142.9 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm
Image Courtesy of Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Toronto
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