Model Paddle

About this object

Narrative

The original owner of the paddle, Fred Nash, said that "Uncle Charlie" (Charles Edenshaw) had made the small paddle for him as a toy when he was a child. Edenshaw died when Nash was about 4 years old (1920). Nash's grandfather Henry Edenshaw was Charles Edenshaw's cousin. (See MOA 3261/122 for a similar paddle, with the same provenance.)

Physical description

Model paddle features a painted composition on each side of the blade: on one side is an eagle, painted primarily in red with a re-curved beak and black detailing; on the opposite side is a raven, painted primarily in black with a less sharply curved beak and red detailing. The compositions are abstracted to fit the elongated shape of the paddle blade. Ovoid elements. Handle is unpainted.