Description:

Hawaiian Islands, ca. early 20th century CE. A hefty and large pestle meant for pounding taro root into poi. Carved from a porous dark-gray volcanic stone, this tool has a knob-shaped handle and a pounding surface which gradually widens from the neck down. The upper surfaces of the pestle are rough to the touch, as is consistent with volcanic stone, however the center of the underside is incredibly smooth from multiple uses. Size: 7.25" H (18.4 cm).

Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Hawaii (Europeans introduced steel weapons). They are used for pounding cooked taro root into poi, a stable of the 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.

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection

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#123266

  • Condition: Minor chips around pounding surface, handle, and neck, with light earthen deposits within porous surface, otherwise very good.

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December 5, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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