North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, Pre-contact era, ca. 18th century or earlier CE. This hefty stone ball is almost perfectly spherical, and was carefully sculpted by hand using stone tools! The round stone is a game ball, used to develop balance and stamina, skills that would be useful in hunting and warfare. Hawaiians played a variety of games to celebrate the arrival of the Pleiades in the eastern sky, signifying the new year and the time for Makahiki. The Scottish botanist, William Dean Howells, traveled to the Hawaiian Islands in 1824-1825 and recorded his observations and illustrations, which included a tattooed Hawaiian chief balancing on a large stone ball, much like this example! Crafting a massive stone ball simply using other stone tools was an impressive undertaking! Size: 7" Diameter (17.8 cm); 8.5" H (21.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA Collection

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#146780

Minor abrasions and light wear on surface commensurate with age and use, but overall in excellent condition. Old inventory label on surface.