North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful, hand-carved mango wood bowl calabash - a serving bowl named for a gourd and made from hardwood in Hawaii - presenting a planar base and smooth walls that rise to an annular rim. The form is nicely complemented by toffee-hued woodgrain with natural caramel, chocolate, and espresso striations. Hawaiian royalty often valued specific calabashes - even going so far as to name them after royal individuals - and until the early 19th century they were reserved for elites in society. Traditionally, calabashes were made with stone and coral tools, carved from kou, milo, and kamani trees. A sumptuous and finely carved example! Size: 9.7" Diameter x 5" H (24.6 cm x 12.7 cm)

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#142785

Inscribed "Hawaiian Mango / Calabash" on base. Repair to one side near rim with break lines visible and some minor loss along break lines. Stable hairline fissure extends from one side of break line. A few nicks, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with collection label on base.