North Pacific, Hawaii, ca. late 19th to 20th century CE. Signed "'KOA' # 8513 Edward N. Perreini" on base. A splendid dish, hand-carved from wood of the flowering Acacia Koa tree and burnished to a lustrous sheen atop swirling natural hues of caramel, butterscotch, almond, vanilla, and espresso. Sitting upon a tapering, annular foot, the vessel presents smooth walls that swoop upwards to a broad, beveled rim over a shallow basin. Note the 2 old repairs at the sides, especially evident on the exterior - creating further diversity to the natural woodgrain surface and serving as testament to the true importance of this dish to its owner. Size: 14" Diameter x 2.7" H (35.6 cm x 6.9 cm)
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. Prior to the 19th century, they were made with stone and coral tools, carved from kou, milo, and kamani trees most commonly. Repaired calabashes like this one demonstrate signs of immense reverence - the calabash was loved enough to be repaired, and the repairs, like this one, were done with the desire to make the repair itself beautiful.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-M. Kobiashi collection, Hawaii, USA, 1960 to 2000
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#172750
Condition
A few scratches to surface. Two old repairs to sides. Otherwise, excellent with lustrous burnish and stunning hues. Signed "'KOA' # 8513 Edward N. Perreini" on base.