Description:

**Originally Listed At $400**

North America, Hawaiian Islands, ca. 19th century CE. Finely carved and burnished from Ohia wood, a pestle and pedestaled mortar made for pounding taro root into poi. This pounder has a knob-shaped handle and a body which gradually widens towards a rounded face. Poi pounders were traditionally used for mashing cooked taro root into poi, a stable of the diet. Taro root was steamed in an earthen oven, peeled using shells, and then pounded. The resulting puree was then blended with water into a highly nutritious paste. A wonderful example made from Ohia, wood from a native Hawaiian tree (Metrosideros polymorpha) that has a high density and produces beautiful red Ohi'a lehua flowers. Size: 4.25" in diameter x 8.75" H (pounder placed in bowl) (10.8 cm x 22.2 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#145359

  • Condition: Age crack to pedestal base of mortar. Normal surface wear to pounder and mortar commensurate with age and use. Otherwise in excellent condition.

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September 17, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$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
$200,000 + $20,000