Made of a soft wood. Decorated with a red pigmet, possibly vermillion.

This paddle has been carved from one piece of wood. It is incised and there is a hole drilled in the top part of the handle. The bottom part of the handle has a heart shaped hole

The handle is decorated with an incised zigzag motif on both sides of the edges, on both sides. Underneath the zig zag, there are two small stars and one big star, both with four points. Underneath the stars is another zig zag pattern on both edges. An inscription reads "J.K.S. Maker" The zig zag incisions appear to have some red colouring inside, as does one of the stars. Both sides are almost identical, except on one side there are 6 diamonds in a row,each containing a design that looks like a snowflake.

for stirring ashes (JM), ceremonial. JM will double check if special treatment is required

The British Museum accession record says the red colouring is vermillion.

JM
usually mid-late January, to early Febraruy (mid-winter ceremony)

Unknown Haudenosaunee artist, wooden paddle. Currently in the British Museum, Am+4959. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 25111.

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).