Austral Islands, French Polynesia
19th century
Sea coral
Height: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Gary Seering, Aiea, Hawaiʻi
The penu is a pounder used in the preparation of taro and other foodstuffs across Polynesia, and examples carved from sea coral are specific to the Austral Islands, where the material was available and worked in place of the basalt used elsewhere in the region. Coral pounders of this type are seldom encountered in the market and are underrepresented in published collections relative to stone examples. This example dates to the nineteenth century and comes from a single Hawaiʻi collection.
The form follows the standard Austral Islands pounder typology: a crescent-shaped upper handle, a waisted neck, and a broad rounded pounding base, the whole carved from a single piece of white sea coral. The natural cellular texture of the coral is retained across the entire surface, the structure of the material visible in the open pores and radiating patterns throughout the body. The piece is intact with no restoration or repair.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Austral Islands, French Polynesia
19th century
Sea coral
Height: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Gary Seering, Aiea, Hawaiʻi
The penu is a pounder used in the preparation of taro and other foodstuffs across Polynesia, and examples carved from sea coral are specific to the Austral Islands, where the material was available and worked in place of the basalt used elsewhere in the region. Coral pounders of this type are seldom encountered in the market and are underrepresented in published collections relative to stone examples. This example dates to the nineteenth century and comes from a single Hawaiʻi collection.
The form follows the standard Austral Islands pounder typology: a crescent-shaped upper handle, a waisted neck, and a broad rounded pounding base, the whole carved from a single piece of white sea coral. The natural cellular texture of the coral is retained across the entire surface, the structure of the material visible in the open pores and radiating patterns throughout the body. The piece is intact with no restoration or repair.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
