North Pacific, Hawaii, ca. 19th century CE. A magnificent calabash bowl, hand-carved from Kou wood to display a flat base and smooth walls that slant gently inwards to a circular rim. Note the warm glow of the natural woodgrain boasting swirling hues of chocolate, espresso, and mocha that dance across the vessel, nicely complementing its elegant form. The exterior of the bowl showcases a lustrous burnish, while the interior is left unpolished. Hawaiian royalty often valued specific calabashes - even going so far as to name them after royal individuals - and until the early 19th century they were reserved for elites in society. Traditionally, calabashes were made with stone and coral tools, carved from kou, milo, and kamani trees. Repaired calabashes like this one demonstrate signs of immense reverence - the calabash was loved enough to be repaired, and the repairs, like this one, were done with the desire to make the repair itself beautiful. Size: 12.4" W x 4.625" H (31.5 cm x 11.7 cm)

Native to coastal regions of the Hawaiian Islands, Kou can grow up to 25 feet across and 50 feet tall. The majority of the tree population was destroyed by moths in the 1800s, making Kou wood a rare delicacy. Kou was prized by Hawaiian royalty for food vessels due to both the beauty of its wood grain and its inability to corrupt the taste of food.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-John DuPont collection, Pennsylvania, USA

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#166516

Chip to rim. Old repair to side with 2 nails. Nicks, scratches, and abrasions throughout, especially on interior. Natural stable fissures to wood. Otherwise, excellent with nice burnish to exterior.