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," skillfully hand-carved from porous volcanic stone. The intriguing implement presents a thick, circular rim above a shallow basin and a thick base, all sitting upon a ring-form, pedestal foot. A triangular handle projects from one side of the rim, allowing it to be easily grasped. 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: 6.3" in diameter x 3" H (16 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 1995 to 2010

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#167396

Collection number painted on bottom. Expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, intact and excellent with light earthen deposits in some recessed areas.