North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful, hand-carved mango wood bowl calabash - a serving bowl named for a gourd and made from hardwood in Hawaii - presenting a planar base and smooth walls that rise to an annular rim. The form is nicely complemented by toffee-hued woodgrain with natural caramel, chocolate, and espresso striations. Hawaiian royalty often valued specific calabashes - even going so far as to name them after royal individuals - and until the early 19th century they were reserved for elites in society. Traditionally, calabashes were made with stone and coral tools, carved from kou, milo, and kamani trees. A sumptuous and finely carved example! Size: 9.7" Diameter x 5" H (24.6 cm x 12.7 cm)
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection
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#142785
Condition
Inscribed "Hawaiian Mango / Calabash" on base. Repair to one side near rim with break lines visible and some minor loss along break lines. Stable hairline fissure extends from one side of break line. A few nicks, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with collection label on base.