A leaf-shaped paddle from Buka

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…. In fig. 8 we have nearly the same figure as the last; the nose is divided in two; the elongated ears are drawn out square with the line of the nose; the lozenge-pattern on the forehead is still preserved.  …

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. … In the ninth figure [Fig 9] the nose has expanded at the base; all the rest is the same as in the last figure [1884.61.38].

Old General Pitt Rivers Label [before 1884] - [Printed and stuck to object] Paddle New Ireland. Ornamented with the vestige of a human figure as in the preceding specimen. The base of the nose is expanded and curved so as to conform to the line of the chin as in the case in one of the former examples.

Delivery Catalogue I entry [1884] - Paddles of the New Irelanders Paddle wood painted and carved 521 Screen 176 177

Written on object [after 1884] - New Ireland PR coll Blue 521

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) Narrower blade [to 1884.61.37], plain handle, similar plain surface decoration, with curved base [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) 521 Blue. Paddle; narrow blade plain handle triangular 'plumed' design carved and painted. No 10 of series to show possible degradations of design