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THB19th C. Caroline Islands Yap Limestone Rai Currency
Lot 244
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$16,000 - $24,000
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 24, 2022
Set Reminder
2022-03-24 10:00:00
2022-03-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (416)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Micronesia, Caroline Islands, Yap region, ca. 19th century CE. This is a massive wheel shaped stone disc known as a "rai" (also a raay or dei) with a wide hole drilled through the center. The stone is a chalky white calcite and aragonite rich limestone with roughly flaked faces and shallow circular cavities from extracting the large rock. Rai stones were used as exchangeable currency by the Yapese people and were literal monumental signs of wealth- indeed the discs could be 8 feet in (2 meters) in diameter! When exchanged, the massive rai often stayed in the same spot, requiring memorization of ownership. The value of an individual rai stone is based both on the overall craftsmanship as well as the exciting history of obtaining the original stone. Yapese had to sail to distant islands, possibly encountering hostile tribes, and tow the rocks back on canoes- it was this peril and herculean effort to acquire the stone that created the value! Size: 27" Diameter x 2.25" W (68.6 cm x 5.7 cm); 28.5" H (72.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Rai stones from the Yap Islands are some of the most intriguing types of currency in the world and represent an intriguing interpretation of the definition for 'money.' According to author and traditional currency expert Charles Opitz, "The larger stones were displayed and in many cases were displayed outside the bachelor's house to show the wealth of the village. The stones had no practical non-monetary use other than as ornamentation. The stones were also used for political payments. A large stone could be used to buy support of a neutral tribe during a war. The German government set fines in stone money. The stone money was purely an internal money and was never used to trade with other islands." (Opitz, Charles. J. "An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money: A Definition of Money and Descriptions of Traditional Money." First Impressions Printing, Florida, 2000, p. 319)
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, 1995 to 2010; ex-private Hawaii, USA collection, purchased on Maui in an estate sale in 2004
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#170083Wear to faces and chips and abrasions and natural pitting to limestone, otherwise intact. Mineral and earthen deposits scattered throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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