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THBRare 18th C. Tahitian Volcanic Stone Poi Pounder
Lot 28a
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
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,600 - $5,000
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About Auction
Live
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
Featuring Pacific Northwest Coast Native American Art from respected collector / dealer, Joseph Alphabet. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (342)
- Lot Description
South Pacific, French Polynesia, Tahiti, ca. 18th century CE. A stunning and sumptuous pounder, hand-carved from a porous volcanic stone, used for pulverizing taro root into poi. This tool has a T-shaped handle with three incised ridges on either side and in the middle to increase the gripping ability of the wielder. The hefty pounding surface is ovoid in form and gradually widens downwards from the slender neck. The neck and handle are incredibly smooth from multiple uses, and the rough pounding surface is consistent with finely-aged volcanic stone. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 3.5" W x 5.875" H (8.9 cm x 14.9 cm); 7.125" H (18.1 cm) on included custom stand.
Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands (Europeans introduced steel weapons). They 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.
A similar example hammered for 2000 Euro ($2,398) at Christie's, Paris African and Oceanic Art Auction (sale 5537, December 4, 2008, lot 57): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/pilon-maupiti-en-pierre-tahiti-5163241-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5163241&sid=8682af58-4eb8-436a-bf5e-2d76331d0654
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection; ex-private Bernier collection, France
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.
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#133626Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age as expected, small nicks to handle, neck, body, and pounding head, with some light discoloration, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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