French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands, Enata peoples, ca. late 18th to early 19th century CE. Stunning and hand-carved from dark-gray basalt stone, used for repeatedly pounding taro root into poi. The densely-detailed tool has a rounded pounding face, wide shoulders, a smooth tapered profile, a thick tubular handle, and a bifurcated, knob-shaped grip adorned with a pair of carved abstract Janiform faces. The faces are composed of almond-shaped eyes, rectangular noses, and ovoid mouths, each with incised coiffures and necklines delineated with a horizontal necklace. The neck exhibits another pair of similar abstract faces underneath those detailing the handle, with repeating triangular, linear, and X-shaped motifs surrounding the spaces in-between. Though the pounding face is rough from age, the handle and neck are incredibly smooth from repeated use. A fabulous example from the Marquesas Islands! Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 4.125" W x 6.5" H (10.5 cm x 16.5 cm); 7.875" H (20 cm) on included custom stand.

Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands (Europeans introduced steel weapons). The pounder, known locally as a "Ke'a Tuki Popoi," are used for pounding cooked taro root into poi, a staple of the islander diet. Taro root was steamed in an earthen oven, peeled using shells, and placed onto a slab of wood to be pounded. The pounded results were blended with water into a highly nutritious paste. Traditional calabash bowls were used as containers to hold poi mixtures, and traveling royalty were accompanied by their own poi maker, with his or her own poi-making implements like this one.

For a similar Janiform example from the Marquesas Islands, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1995.65.1: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/317734

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133627

Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use as expected, small losses to pounding face and shoulder, with fading to some incised details, and light discoloration. Small area of red pigmentation to one handle face. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory sticker on pounding face.