Hawaiʻi / Hawaiian
18th century or earlier
Basalt
Height 5" / 12.7 cm
Provenance: Private Southern California Collection; Bonhams San Francisco, Lot 97, May 5, 2015
A Hawaiian basalt figure identified as an ʻaumakua, a form associated with ancestral spiritual presence in Hawaiian belief. ʻAumakua were understood as personal or family deities connected to deified ancestors and imbued with protective force. Carved in stone, this example has a compact scale and a concentrated physical presence suited to its devotional significance.
Objects of this kind belong to a long tradition in which stones could hold mana and serve as focal points of reverence. The restrained treatment of the form gives the piece clarity and gravity without relying on elaborate carving. Its age, material, and established provenance make it a strong example of Hawaiian ritual sculpture.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Hawaiʻi / Hawaiian
18th century or earlier
Basalt
Height 5" / 12.7 cm
Provenance: Private Southern California Collection; Bonhams San Francisco, Lot 97, May 5, 2015
A Hawaiian basalt figure identified as an ʻaumakua, a form associated with ancestral spiritual presence in Hawaiian belief. ʻAumakua were understood as personal or family deities connected to deified ancestors and imbued with protective force. Carved in stone, this example has a compact scale and a concentrated physical presence suited to its devotional significance.
Objects of this kind belong to a long tradition in which stones could hold mana and serve as focal points of reverence. The restrained treatment of the form gives the piece clarity and gravity without relying on elaborate carving. Its age, material, and established provenance make it a strong example of Hawaiian ritual sculpture.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
