Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THB19th C. Hawaiian Kou Wood Low Bowl - Patched Repairs
Lot 31
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,200 - $1,800
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Polynesia, Hawaii, Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), ca. 19th century CE. A warm, honey-brown Hawaiian low bowl, expertly carved from a single piece of prized kou wood, its smooth surface revealing rich swirling grain patterns accentuated by age and long use. The vessel's rounded body is balanced by a thick, gently flaring rim, conforming to the classic Polynesian form noted by anthropologist Kenneth Emory, who observed that this type of low, wide-mouthed bowl with a thick rim was likely brought to Hawaii by the earliest Polynesian settlers. Its proportions - with a rim diameter far exceeding its height - made it ideal for communal serving and preparation of poi or other staple foods. The patina tells the story of generations of use, with subtle sheen from handling and a graceful network of age cracks. Size: 14" Diameter x 6.9" H (35.6 cm x 17.5 cm)
Notably, historic repairs in the form of inset wooden patches, pegged and fitted with care, attest to the value placed on this vessel and the Hawaiian tradition of preserving essential and esteemed objects for continued use. Low bowls such as this were made in a range of sizes, from small personal dishes to large communal vessels, and were treasured both for their function and for the beauty of their kou wood, which was especially prized for not imparting a bitter taste to food. This example, with its elegant simplicity and historic repairs, is a rare survivor from the 19th century, encapsulating Hawaiian artistry, resourcefulness, and cultural continuity.
Exhibited: “into the woods, is perpetual youth...”, May-July 2023 Hands-On Curatorial exhibition at the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired November 19, 2002; ex-Economos Works of Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased August 13, 1992; ex-Bill Hawn collection; ex-private Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii, 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 and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#196382Several old repairs and one new repair done to old repair. Some old nicks, chips, and abrasions, as well as small areas of old, inactive insect damage. Patina to surface.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
