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.