Samoa
Mid-19th century
Ironwood
Diameter 22"; height 8¼"
Provenance: Norman Hurst, Cambridge, MA
This tanoa was carved from a single heavy block of ironwood and stands on six legs, the standard form associated with ceremonial use in Samoa. The interior retains the fine pearling characteristic of bowls with extended histories of kava preparation, a surface condition produced by years of contact with the root mixture and not replicable by artificial means. The scale and weight of the piece are consistent with a bowl intended for communal ceremony rather than personal use.
Kava ceremony in Samoa, known as ʻava, is among the most formally structured in Polynesia, governed by precise protocols of preparation, presentation, and drinking order that encode social rank and relationships. A bowl of this size would have presided over significant gatherings, and the pearled interior confirms it was used for exactly that purpose over many years. The provenance through Norman Hurst of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the most respected dealers in Oceanic art, places this piece within a well-documented collecting tradition.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Samoa
Mid-19th century
Ironwood
Diameter 22"; height 8¼"
Provenance: Norman Hurst, Cambridge, MA
This tanoa was carved from a single heavy block of ironwood and stands on six legs, the standard form associated with ceremonial use in Samoa. The interior retains the fine pearling characteristic of bowls with extended histories of kava preparation, a surface condition produced by years of contact with the root mixture and not replicable by artificial means. The scale and weight of the piece are consistent with a bowl intended for communal ceremony rather than personal use.
Kava ceremony in Samoa, known as ʻava, is among the most formally structured in Polynesia, governed by precise protocols of preparation, presentation, and drinking order that encode social rank and relationships. A bowl of this size would have presided over significant gatherings, and the pearled interior confirms it was used for exactly that purpose over many years. The provenance through Norman Hurst of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the most respected dealers in Oceanic art, places this piece within a well-documented collecting tradition.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
