Chip Carving Examples - Primitives
Chip Carving Instructions
Chip Carving Examples
EXAMPLES OF PRIMITIVE CARVING.
The photographs on the two following pages show specimens of chip carving now located in the Peabody Museum, Harvard University.
No. 1 is a ceremonial adz from Mangaia Island in the Hervey Group in the South Pacific. It is about a yard long. The lower part of the handle is hollow and perforated, the remainder deeply incised.
No. 2 is a ceremonial or tribute paddle from Vavitao Island in the Australian Group. A lens will help to bring out the beauty of its carving. Notice that bands emphasize the center and outline of the paddle and that the junction of the shaft and blade is seemingly strengthened by horizontal rows of incisions as though bound with cords. The blade is not flat but curved both transversely and longitudinally.
In No. 3 notice the beauty of the marvelous repetition, yet here also are the bands denoting structure.
No. 6 is from Mangaia Island and shows beautiful workmanship throughout. The jade head is bound to the handle with braided cord in an elaborate and skillful manner. This handle, like several others not shown, stands as erect as a column, whether from design or not, is not known. This handle suggested the pattern used in Plate XVI.
No. 7 from New Zealand is a storage box for feathers and other personal ornaments, used on special occasions. It is of rich brown wood with dull red paint in the incisions between the bands. What beautiful flowing curves they make! And there is the semblance of a chain to hold the treasures.
