Description:

Polynesia, Tahiti- Maupiti, Society Islands, 19th Century CE. An exquisite black basalt Penu or Pounder of a cross-bar type which is the classical Maupiti form (as opposed to having a forked top or a faceted top). A pounder like this was traditionally used to make a paste from the pulp of edible roots and fruits, primarily bread-fruit and taro. The pounder was used to pulverize these against a stone or wooden surface, most often in the form of a table upon four feet known as a papahia or 'umete. The resulting paste was then fermented to become what the Tahitians call mahi, also known as poi, the Hawaiian term. Size: 5.5" in diameter x 6.25" H (14 cm x 15.9 cm)

See a parallel example in the Musee de l'Homme, Paris [Dept. Oceania, 78.1.201: published in Garanger, J.: Pilons polynesiens. Musee de l'Homme. Serie E. Oceanie I (Paris, 1967), no. 19, p. 37.].

Another was featured in a Christie's Tribal Art sale [Christie's, London, 23 June 1986, lot 136, p. 63.] from Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Tad Dale collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 1960 to 2000

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#154530

  • Condition: Old nicks/chips to peripheries as shown. Otherwise intact and very well preserved.

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June 4, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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