A beautiful, Burmese pageant or ceremonial paddle, as were used during religious festivals or boat processions of Buddhist monasteries and temples on the Irrawaddy River and its tributaries, or on the Inle Lake (but not used for the so-called ‘Dragonboat Races’). The long, round shaft and the narrow, straight paddle leaf are primed in black-brown and richly painted with gold lacquer. The paddle leaf displays on each of its sides the representation of a large dragon (as symbol of fortune) in a flower field, enclosed within a long, bordered medallion. Above and below these dragons are each found two additional small medallions, with ‘golden’ half-figures of Buddhist saints (Bodhisattvas) each on a lotus blossom. The surfaces between are painted with ‘golden’ flowers and leaves on both sides of the paddle leaf. The round, long shaft bears a continuous ornament of geometric interlaced bands with ‘golden’ flowers, at the bottom near the paddle leaf and at the top, at its tip. These floral decorative zones of gold lacquer painting are ca. 40 cm long below and ca. 38 cm long at the top. The gold lacquer, however, in particular at the end of the shaft, is already heavily worn and has almost disappeared due to the long period of use of the paddle. Also in the mid-section and at the tip of the paddle leaf, the object displays a certain amount of colour scuffing. Otherwise no damage. L: 190 cm (total). First third of the 20th century. (ME)