Description:

Oceania, Hawaii, ca. early 20th century CE. A woven crown, made from two layers of carefully folded and attached lauhala fiber, giving it a sinuous, curving appearance that plays with light and shadow. It is ovoid when viewed from above or below, with the curved fibers held in place by a wide band of fiber around the interior center. Hawaiian myth tells that, when the goddess Pele arrived at the Big Island, lauhala roots ensnared her canoe at the shore. She angrily ripped up the plants and cast them over the landscape, so that now the plant grows on every island. Fascinatingly, the lauhala is one of the oldest plants on Earth - dating back 250 million years in Africa and Asia! A fossilized fruit from the tree dating to 500,000 years ago was found preserved in a lava flow on Kauai, attesting to its ancient status in Hawaii as well. The connection to this history is important for native Hawaiians who dance while wearing crowns like this one. Size: 10.1" W x 2.55" H (25.7 cm x 6.5 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection

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#145327

  • Condition: Small losses and tears to some of the edges, but overall it is well preserved and in good condition.

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November 14, 2019 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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