North Pacific, Hawaii, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. An impressive and quite sizable platter finely carved from koa wood and intended to hold a kalua pig - a pig that has been roasted in an underground oven. This huge dish is formed from a single slab of wood that, although is for the most part flat, displays a slightly convex bottom, gently upward-curved peripheries, and a very shallow basin. Deep natural grooves add a lovely texture to the piece's surface, as the gorgeous woodgrain boasts rich hues of caramel, chocolate, and mocha. Size: 36.75" L x 29" W (93.3 cm x 73.7 cm); 43.5" H (110.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Hawaiian wood dishes, such as this example, were used for serving and storing poi, salting and serving meat, and storing tapa cloth and feathers. It is possible that this dish would have been used at a luau feast, which takes its name from the Hawaiian word for the taro leaf that resembles roasted spinach once steamed for a few hours. The Hawaiian luau began in 1819 when King Kamehameha II removed the religious kapu (taboo) system that restricted women and commoners from eating delicacies and women from eating with men. To introduce the people to this new system, the king performed a symbolic act by inviting women to dine with him, thereby hosting the first luau. The luau feast is traditionally eaten by hand and served on floor mats decorated with large centerpieces made of ti leaves.

According to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology at University of California, Berkeley, "Carvers preferred the wood of the koa (or kou) tree because its grain was relatively soft and easy to cut. Food bowls were carefully carved from hardwoods with stone and later metal tools; some were also hollowed out with fire. Next, the bitterness in the wood was removed by soaking in sea water; the wood was further sweetened by an application of fermented taro or sweet potato. Finally, the bowl was polished with pumice or shark skin, and rubbed to a high gloss with nut oil. This coating helped waterproof the wood, extending its life."

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-B. Mackley collection, Pennsylvania, USA, acquired in 2005

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#165838

Collection label near bottom. Several stable pressure fissures throughout. Expected nicks, abrasions, and surface losses, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, remarkable for its age with beautiful patina.