North Pacific, Hawaii, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine set of three Hawaiian royal standards known as kahilis formed from wooden poles wrapped in gold-hued rope or cloth to their mid-section and then adorned with dozens of lush feathers in hues of cream, marigold, light brown, and taupe. A vegetal fiber rope coiled around a swatch of barkcloth presents at the junction of the handle and the plumage, which are woven to the wood via slender white string. Kahilis are symbols of the ali'i chiefs and were adopted as Hawaiian royal standards near the close of the eighteenth century. Similar to how the nobility of Europe use banners with coats of arms, Hawaiian nobility use kahili to show status, lineage, and family ties. There are many sizes and styles of kahili, from very small kahili-pa a-lima (hand kahili) carried like a scepter by female chiefs to the towering formal kahili. Size (all the same): 8" W x 47.75" H (20.3 cm x 121.3 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#142594

Light fraying to animal hide at base of feathers. Otherwise, intact and excellent with lovely patina to wood and impressively preserved plumage.