Context (Related Documents)
Extract from letter stuck to reverse of catalogue card from Kenneth P. Emory of the Bishop Museum: "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

Description (Labels & Markings)
Old attached paper label notes: 'Paddle from Easter Is./ [?] Nov 68 of the [writing unclear] Topaz'.

Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Context (Field collection)
Collected on voyage of H.M.S. Topaz, 1868.



Event Date 1868
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card for 1955.156 A-C, handwritten in blue ink, reads, 'Three dance paddles / [...] / C. 38 3/4" long. Old label bears date Nov. 68' and below annotated in pencil, 'HMS Topaz'.
Event Date 1955
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

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

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

Description (Physical description)
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. Several holes in wood as a result of knots. Small chips missing from one side of head and torso.
Event Date 13/10/2022
Author: rachel hand