Description:

New World, Hawaiian Islands, Pre-Contact Period, ca. 16th to mid-17th century CE. A sizable cylindrical lamp, hand-carved from porous volcanic stone, with a deep basin used for burning oil extracted from the kukui nut (literally "candlenut"). The vessel has a flat base, gradually-expanding walls, and a thick rim surrounding the oil basin. Light was produced from this lamp by filling the interior with kukui nut oil, igniting one end of a tapa-bark wick, and placing the unlit end inside the oil; the amount of light generated depended on the number of wicks used. Size: 6.25" W x 10.625" H (15.9 cm x 27 cm).

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#141628

  • Condition: Small chips to base, body, and rim as shown, with light encrustations within basin and some pores, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.

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June 20, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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