Meryl Grandy

Many thanks to blog reader Luc P for emailing me a link with fantastic detailed pics of the circa 1878 Maliseet Paddle at the York Sunbury Museum I posted on earlier. This beautiful paddle has some of the most intricate carving I've seen and is on my to-do list of paddle replicas.


1878 Maliseet Paddle
According to the documention, Colonel John Simcoe Saunders (1795-1878) received this beautifully carved ceremonial Maliseet paddle as a gift from an Aboriginal artisan from the Kingsclear First Nation.

In previous posts I wrote about my attempt at a Photoshop adjustment to bring out the detail and also found a Flickr photo of the paddle on display. But these new shots show the amazing detail of the blade's incised decoration.


Exquisite Blade Details
The full link with more info and photos of other native artifacts are at this Virtual Exhibit.

While searching through Artefacts Canada's site, I came across a fascinating paddle, apparently located at the Fredericton Region Museum (formerly York Sunbury Museum) in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It's been dated to at least 1878, made from maple, and is ornately carved with a stylized fiddlehead design. The description mentions that it was presented to Col. John Saunders (1792-1878), who served as High Sheriff of York County for many years and befriended many local Maliseet. The grip is incised with the builder  dupskodegun (pictorial signature or private mark) and is made of curved motifs with a stylized depiction of fiddleheads, apparently a very common design of the time. Below are some closeups of the blade and grip area. For the full Artefacts Canada citation, click here.


The decorated blade & grip


The whole paddle

UPDATE - See more detailed pics of this paddle HERE