North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, Pre-Contact Period, ca. 16th to mid-17th century CE. A rare and fascinating lamp used for burning oil extracted from the kukui nut, which translates to "candle nut," hand-carved from porous volcanic stone. The intriguing implement presents a triangular form with 4 recessed basins - 2 on either side - allowing it to hold and burn oil on both sides. 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: 6.5" L x 6.5" W x 2.75" H (16.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 7 cm); 9" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#160881

Expected surface wear. Loss to area on periphery. Otherwise, excellent with nice encrustations from use.