Hawaiian Islands, from Maui, ca. 19th century CE. A hefty and sizeable pestle, hand-carved from porous black basalt, meant for pounding taro root into poi. The tool has a knob-shaped handle, a rounded shoulder, and a pounding surface which gradually widens from the neck down. Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Hawaii (Europeans introduced steel weapons). They are used for pounding cooked taro root into poi, a stable of the 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. Size: 6.25" W x 6.95" H (15.9 cm x 17.7 cm); 10.4" H (26.4 cm) on included custom stand.
A similar example hammered for EUR 5,625 ($6,577.41) at Christie's, Paris African and Oceanic Arts Auction (sale 15050, November 22, 2017, lot 27): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/pilon-poi-poi-pounder-hawaii-6105336-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6105336&sid=0baad5f3-9569-4479-b14b-f7c773d743f7
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#142267
Condition
Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, and loss to one side of the handle, as shown.