**Originally Listed At $400**

South Pacific, Fiji, ca. early 20th century CE. A carved wooden bowl supported by ten tubular legs, and featuring a flat rim decorated with a sun-inspired border of repeated triangular 'ray' motifs punctuated by seven larger rays comprised of nested triangles. White pigment remains in the recesses of these motifs. Large bowls of this kind (known as tanoa or kumete ni yaqona), cut from a single block of wood, were used for the mixing of the psychoactive beverage called kava (kava or kava kava in Tongan; yaqona, pronounced yanggona, in Fijian), made from the stems and roots of the pepper bush Piper methysticum, mixed with water. By the 18th century, the Tongan practice of kava preparation - a chief ritual - spread to eastern and coastal Fiji. Size: 7.875" in diameter x 2.875" H (20 cm x 7.3 cm)

Used primarily in ceremonial events and social gatherings, the kava-kava beverage has been prepared and consumed by natives of Tonga, Fiji, Hawaii, and other island nations for hundreds of years. The kava plant is a shrub native to the Hawaiian Islands among other island groups in Polynesia and the South Pacific. The intoxicating beverage is traditionally prepared by first grinding the stem and roots of the plant using a mortar and pestle to sufficiently express the natural oils. The mixture is then transferred into a porous sack that, after soaking in clean water, is squeezed into a large serving bowl. The calming, relaxing effects of the beverage are typically experienced after consuming one or two cups of the beverage, though higher quantities can produce mild sensations of euphoria and minor loss of motor skills.

See a similar example in the Western Australian Museum collection - http://museum.wa.gov.au/research/collections/indigenous/indigenous-cultures-and-ancient-world/fijian-kava-bowl

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#137900

Minor fading to white pigment on recessed decorative motifs around the border. Otherwise excellent with nice patina.