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Bark Canoes: The Art and Obsession of Tappan Adney

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Description

The definitive reference to indigenous peoples' watercraft around the world. Tappan Adney (1868-1950) was an artist, writer, ethnographer, historian and modelmaker of unparalleled ability. He tirelessly documented the cultures and languages of vanishing native cultures. His most enduring legacy is the extraordinary 110 birchbark canoe models he handbuilt to exacting standards. The models, now held at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, were built to ensure future canoe builders had exact reproductions for reference. These historically accurate, 1:5 scale models were meticulously researched, and traditionally constructed using the identical materials of the originals. Many are based on canoes that were the last example of their type. Before such a canoe disintegrated, Adney measured and recorded its dimensions, consulted with native builders and studied historical photographs and paintings. The canoe models are organized into eight distinct groups:MaritimesEastern WoodlandNorthwestLower British ColumbiaFur TradeAmur ValleyAsiaSouth America Each canoe model is beautifully photographed and accompanied by captions that outline the craft's origins, uses and technical details. Adney's amazing technical drawings for the models are also included. An extensive introduction covers Adney's life and provides information about native model builders, canoe decoration and fur trade heraldry. Bark Canoes is the definitive reference to indigenous -- and ingenious -- watercraft used around the world. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Firefly Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2004


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 152 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1552977331


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 30


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 1 x 11 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #138 in Canoeing #472 in Ship History (Books)


#138 in Canoeing:


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, May 5

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Superb
Format: Hardcover
Oh man! What a great book. Excellent quality. A short history of Tappan Adney. The man who almost single handedly preserved the entirety of what we DO know (too little) about the actual construction, materials, and uses of the traditional bark canoes and much of the knowledge of the tribes (and their migrations and relationships) who made them. Many photographs. So, even if only a casual interest in this practically lost art, it makes for a unique and fascinating coffee table addition. I find that I want to make one now. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2022 by Random Act

  • A beautiful book about a stoneage creation, almost lost and the man who saved it.
Format: Hardcover
Bark Canoes, is a great addition to any library of the out doors, water sports, history, the Great Lakes, or First Peoples art. Beautiful pictures of beautiful models. A good story of the man who preserved an art treasure.
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2019 by out of step

  • Fantastic book
I work at a maritime museum and I am always referencing all the time. Now I finally have my own personal copy!
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021 by Wisteria

  • Museum in a book
Format: Paperback
This is a photo collection of Native American Canoe models, good to have if you care about the lost art of canoe making
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2026 by JG

  • Tappan Adney
Tappan Adney is a relative thru my paternal genealogy side, and his canoes are in a New York museum. Thought it would be nice to have his books for my children and grandchildren to read. Wish I could have gotten them in hard copy and one of the orginial printings.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013 by Laurie Albrecht

  • Exceptionally nice!
A beautifully illustrated book of Adney's remarkable models. Anyone interested in birch bark canoes should find it a welcome addition
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2015 by Jon B. Oakleaf

  • History as it pertains to the Canoe Industry
This book deals with the on site observations of a very clever and astute man . He gives in vivid detail the building and decoration of the early canoes used by the native peoples of New Brunswick and the eastern provinces of Canada.
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2014 by Kindle Customer

  • Five Stars
Contains many beautiful photos
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2016 by Amazon Customer

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