Description:

North Pacific, Hawaii, ca. 19th century CE. A sizable and splendid poi pounder, hand-carved from basalt in mottled hues of tan and grey. Presenting an overall phallic form, the fine implement displays a hemispherical handle with a gently flared periphery and a corseted neck to increase the gripping ability of the wielder. The hefty pounding surface is triangular in form and gradually widens downwards from the slender neck. Size: 5.5" L x 3.875" W x 9" H (14 cm x 9.8 cm x 22.9 cm); 11" H (27.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands. The pounders, known locally as a "Ke'a Tuki Popoi," are used for pounding cooked taro root into poi, a staple of the islander diet. Taro root was steamed in an earthen oven, peeled using shells, and placed onto a slab of wood to be pounded. The pounded results were blended with water into a highly nutritious paste. Traditional calabash bowls were used as containers to hold poi mixtures, and traveling royalty were accompanied by their own poi maker, with his or her own poi-making implements like this one.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#161991

  • Condition: Repair to handle with break line visible. Light abrasions throughout, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent with light earthen deposits.

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July 22, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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