An African carved hardwood ceremonial spear-shaped paddle

A hand-carved ethnographic ceremonial paddle, likely of West or Central African origin, potentially from the Duala people of Cameroon. The item is fashioned from a single piece of dense, reddish-brown hardwood. It features a large, leaf-shaped lancet blade with a prominent raised central rib carved on both faces for structural reinforcement. The integral shaft is smoothly finished and tapers slightly toward the base. Objects of this type are frequently identified as ceremonial paddles or spear paddles and were often collected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as objects of status.
Blade Length: 60 cm
Total Length: Approximately 180 cm.