Description (Labels & Markings)
Old attached paper label notes: 'Small paddle from Easter Island Nov 68 [writing unclear] --- [?]'.
Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Context (Related Documents)
Extract from letter, stuck to reverse of catalogue card from Kenneth P. Emory of the Bishop Museum, reads, 'Concerning your three Easter Island dance paddles and the date with them. There was an expedition to Easter Island in 1868 -- ship "Topaze". W. A. Powell has an article about it "Detailed report upon Easter Island", Royal Geographical Society, Australia, vol. 3, pp.138-142. In this account you may find the name of S.G. Ken. The native term for these paddles is rapa in which we might possibly see your word loyape [a note has been added in pen, "probably Topaye"]. The paddles definitely are from Easter Island. Would you be interested in selling one or all of them to us?'
Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
This object was collected during the HMS Topaze expedition to Rapanui in 1868. It is during that expedition that the two large stone moai now in the British Museum were collected: Hoa Hakananai'a (BM Oc1869,1005.1) and Moai Hava (BM Oc1869,1006.1).
Event Date 1868
Author: rachel hand

Context (Related Documents)
Accession register for 1955.156 A-C notes, '[One of] Three dance paddles.'
Event Date 1955
Author: maa

Context (Acquisition Details)
Donated in 1955 by Robert Newall.
Event Date 1955
Author: maa

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card for 1955.156 A-C, handwritten in blue ink, reads, 'Three dance paddles / A. 23 3/4" long. Old label bears date 1st. Nov. 68'.
Event Date 1955
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Context (Amendments / updates)
Lucie Carreau noted that the object was wrongly transcribed as being 'Beasley. H.G. (donor)'.
Event Date 3/8/2006
Author: rachel hand

Description (Labels & Markings)
Rapa. Bifacial anthropomorphic dance-paddle carved of toromiro wood (Mimosa sp.) with a flattened 'head' form at one end with stylized facial features merging into a cylindrical hand-grip section broadening out into a flattened 'torso' form ending with a stylized phallus point. Nearly half of the 'torso' bases is chipped off one side and is missing.
Event Date 13/10/2022
Author: rachel hand