The upcoming Native American, Tribal, Ancient & Asian Art Auction from TAOS Auction Co (Santa Fe, New Mexico), features a 19th century Penobscot paddle with classic stepped grip pattern.
Most interesting is that the paddle blade Page Brand stamps along with a Canadian customs sticker and matching tag documenting its shipment across the border. Unfortunately a worn watermark smudged the year section on the customs tag but the paddle is assumed to not predate 1916 when the Raquette Lake Boys Club was founded. Addressed to Master Gordon Schwartz with his name appearing on both the sticker and the tag, this object offers a rare, almost whimsical glimpse into how fine paddles were casually shipped a century ago.
There is an early set of Canadian Canoe Company paddles on display at the Rondeau Provincial Park visitor centre. They were given as a retirement gift to George Bartlett, superintendent of Algonquin Provincial Park, as a retirement gift in 1922, so these predate the merger of Canadian with the Chestnut & Peterborough companies and would be considered historically significant.
More info about the paddles can be read on this Ontario Parks blog post HERE
A photo dated to 1902 showcasing some paddles and a very early style of canvas canoe in the New Brunswick area...
Here's a 1908 photo showcasing a woman and child posing with a birchbark canoe found in the online collection of The Langlade County Historical Society.
Here's a lovely piece of canoe themed art by Canadian Artist, Stuart Clifford Shaw (1896-1970) sold in a 2007 Waddington's Auction.
Some of the paddles in the private collection of Tom Penniston have been featured on the site. Tom was fortunate to recently acquire another spectacular pieces that was recently up for auction at Waddington's in December of 2024.
While not attributed to any specific carver, the paddle's style is reflective of an older form of Maliseet/Wabanaki paddle with the tear-drop blade and pointed tip. A similar paddle shape is seen in an circa 1886 illustration featuring a similar flattened handle and large carved drip ring being paddled by tourists renting out bark canoes from this post here.
One side of the grip face is etched with the former owners name, "W. Chestnut". This would be William T. Chestnut (1867 - 1935) of Chestnut Canoe Co fame. Long before the establishment of the canoe company in 1904, William was an avid outdoorsman and hunter while working in the family business, R. Chestnut & Sons, Hardware Merchants. Surviving documentation and photos showcase his love for outdoor pursuits, including this circa 1887 photograph featuring men of a sporting club in Fredericton, New Brunswick paddling bark canoes near their summer camp, Camp Comfort. William Chestnut on the far left with the white sleeves.
The resolution and angle prevent seeing any details of his paddle, but it is not a stretch to think that in the 1880's these white patrons were commissioning birchbark canoes and accompanying paddles for their use from local Maliseet craftsmen. St. Mary's First Nation was located was directly across the river from Fredericton. Perhaps that it is the origin of William's which was customized with his name and an etching of nesting birds on the blade.
Here are four paddles in the collections of the Maine Maritime Museum. They have been grouped together because of their Penobscot / Wabanaki influences.
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Some of the paddles in the private collection of Tom Penniston have been featured on the site. Tom was fortunate to recently acquire another spectacular pieces and has graciously allowed posting pics and details. This one has etched decoration on both sides of the handle but ink/dye drawings on one side of the blade. Dr. Roger J. Lewis, Curator of Mi’kmaq Cultural Heritage at the Nova Scotia Museum, has confirmed the paddle's origins as "definitely Mi’kmaq".
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