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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Came across a 50 year old photo published in the 1973 publication, The Mariner's catalog, available for 1 hour borrowing on Archive.org. It accompanies a brief write-up of the Malecite style paddles carved by Henri Vaillancourt. The photo is B&W is quite dark and grainy but the beautifully sculpted blades with sharp spines are visible.
Model maker extraordinaire, Chris Pearson of CanoeManArt, has made a 1/2 scale reproduction of the circa 1849 Passamaquoddy Paddle in the Peabody Harvard Collection. Chris and his work have also been featured in the past, appearing in the The Fall 2015 issue of Canoeroots and Family Camping. This issue showcased six artists whose work focuses on canoe-themed projects. The article is currently available online and there is an archived image of the write up here as well.
Chris's attention to detail on the original and as well as his expert hand have created a beautiful rendition, right down to the worn paint and patina on the original full-sized model. Amazing stuff!
A fantastic thread with great photos of the original more details can be followed at the WCHA forum at this link.
An Ebay seller recently found a huge paddle at an Maine Estate barn. The paddle is a whopping 93 1/2" with a 3 foot blade.
Such long paddles were useful for stand up paddling in ocean canoes and were relatively common place by these coastal peoples.
Later these huge paddles were adopted by lumbermen using wooden batteaux on spring log drives. Perhaps the O.B. CO. marking refer to an obscure logging company.
Passamaquoddy Paddle
An interesting paddle from the Passamaquoddy people of Maine and dating to the early 19th century. This paddle has been carved later in its life by a European, I am sure while still in the U.S. It has a plate attached to the grip with the name 'JOHN H TAYLOR ESQ' embossed upon it. This also would have been added later, either the name of the new owner or more likely the name of an earlier owner, the information having being passed down with the paddle. 195 cm.
| Photo Credit Link - OurAcadia |
“My intention is to share examples of Wabanaki art, with their diverse and powerful designs – many of which have also served a very practical purpose in the everyday lives of living and breathing Wabanaki people. Beyond technical rendering of the subject, I have extensively researched the historical background of Wabanaki material culture and the spiritual, symbolic significance of distinctive traditional designs. My design, the Wabanaki Tree of Life, represents both our traditional symbols and our creation from the ash tree – represented by the ash leaves within the curve itself. This paddle represents how we function as a people with our symbology. Because of a deep connection to the earth, the symbology links us to each other. When you dip the paddle, it renews and strengthens that relationship. It gives us the strength to be ourselves, and to show it – all of these symbols reinforce our connection to the earth and to each other.”
David Moses Bridges is from the Passamaquoddy reservation at Sipayik. David's great-grandfather, Sylvester Gabriel, passed away when David was a young boy, leaving behind several traditional tools and intricate plans for how to build a birchbark canoe. Having never made a canoe with his grandfather, David eventually went on to boat building school so that he could learn to read his grandfather's instructions. After working with master canoe builder Steve Cayard, David has now built three canoes by himself, and participated in over 20 collaborative programs, many of which have taken place within Wabanaki communities, bringing an almost lost art back to its people.
"The blade of this elaborately decorated paddle is painted green. The double-curve design was executed by removing the paint while it was still wet. The stepped motif and crosshatching are suggestive of Penobscot or Passamaquoddy manufacture. The handle exhibits graceful carving and shows much indication of use."
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