19th C. Hawaiian Wooden Figural Kava Bowl

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Northwest Coast, Tribal, & Pre-Columbian Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 24, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-05-24 10:00:00 2018-05-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Northwest Coast, Tribal, & Pre-Columbian Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/northwest-coast-tribal-pre-columbian-art-3238
Featuring Pacific Northwest Coast Native American Art from respected collector / dealer, Joseph Alphabet. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  North America, Hawaiian Islands, ca. 19th century CE. A well-aged personal bowl, hand-carved from lightweight wood, used for consuming a psychoactive beverage called "kava" (or kava-kava). The bowl has a shallow tondo meant for holding only small amounts of the drink at one time, a flat base, tall rounded walls, and an amusing, integral zoomorphic figure for a handle. The form of the handle resembles a seated primate with outstretched legs, bent arms, and an upturned face with almond-shaped eyes and an open mouth. This carving is able to sit upright when placed on a flat surface, supported by the bases of both bowl and handle. Areas of original white and grey decorations have worn away, revealing the sumptuous caramel-hued wood underneath. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 11.375" L x 4.75" H (28.9 cm x 12.1 cm); 8.5" H (21.6 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Used primarily in ceremonial events and social gatherings, the kava-kava beverage has been prepared and consumed by natives of Tonga, Fiji, Hawaii, and other island nations for hundreds of years. The kava plant is a shrub native to the Hawaiian Islands among other island groups in Polynesia and the South Pacific. The intoxicating beverage is traditionally prepared by first grinding the stem and roots of the plant using a mortar and pestle to sufficiently express the natural oils. The mixture is then transferred into a porous sack that, after soaking in clean water, is squeezed into a large serving bowl. The calming, relaxing effects of the beverage are typically experienced after consuming one or two cups of the beverage, though higher quantities can produce mild sensations of euphoria and minor loss of motor skills.
  
  Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection; ex-private Hitchcock collection, Molokai, Hawaii, USA
  
  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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #133485

  Condition

  Repairs to both arms with light adhesive residue along break lines. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use as expected. Fading, discoloration, and chipping to pigmentation, a few stable hairline fissures, and fading to some carved details. Light earthen deposits throughout.
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