A paddle from Buka with head on handle end.

1872 British Association address: Let us see how far they serve to support our views as to variation and continuity now that they are put together. Fig. 1, it will at once be seen, represents both on the handle and on the face of the blade, the head of a Papuan; the large black mass on the head, like a grenadier-cap, is the Papuan head-dress peculiar to these parts; the ears are elongated according to the custom of these people, and pierced with an ear-ornament; the eyes are round black dots, the nose a triangular red mark, and the same colour is spread over the forehead. …

Blue book entry [circa 1874] - Patterns consisting of animal and vegetable forms conventionalized in ornamentation 512 - 24 Paddles. Human figure shewing the transition by which the original designs have been lost and gradually converted into a crescent form. New Ireland Part p80

1875 ‘Evolution of Culture’: 'Having noticed one or two allied varieties of design in specimens that came into my possession, I determined to collect all that I could find as they came to this country. In the course of several years I succeeded in obtaining the series represented upon Plate IV. The first figure [Fig 1] you will see clearly represents the head of a Papuan: the hair or wig is stuffed out, and the ears elongated by means of an ear ornament, after the manner of these people; the eyes are represented by two black dots, and the red line of the nose spreads over the forehead. This is the most realistic figure in the series [1884.61.29].

Old General Pitt Rivers Label [before 1884][Printed label stuck to paddle] - Paddle New Ireland. The handle represents a human head with the Papuan headdress. The ears elongated and pierced with an ear ornament. The eyes are concentric circles, the nose triangular. The same figure is traced on the blade

?Delivery Catalogue I entry [1884] - Paddles of the New Irelanders Paddle wood painted and carved  Screen 176 177

Accession Book IV entry [1920s] - 1884.61.1 - 65 Design - Development and Degradation of - 1884.61.29 - 41 Series of paddles with coloured designs to show possible degradation of design New Ireland (Buka type) Broad, flat lozenge blade, red-painted, carved handle, human head on blade in colour  [Drawing]

Additional entry - 512 - 524 [1884.61.29 - 41] Blue Solomon Islands Buka formerly labelled New Ireland Buka paddles shewing development from man to crescent in PR coll. First reference by the General is when as Lane Fox he gave an address on Anthropology to the British Association. Transactions of the Sections. In 1872 page 168 paddles of 'the New Irelanders, one of the Papuan group of islands adjoining the one in which Bishop Patteson was lately murdered'. Bishop Patteson was murdered on Nukapu in the Santa Cruz group; the Solomon Group is next and then New Ireland. Distances are considerable. [BB]

Card Catalogue Entry [1940s] - Solomon Islands Buka (formerly labelled New Ireland) ?512 Blue. Paddle; broad flat lozenge blade, red painted carved handle; human head on blade in colour. No 1 of series to show possible degradations of design

Written on object [after 1884?]- New Ireland PR coll (512) (blue)