This bowl is quite large, measuring 12.5" in diameter at the widest and about 5.25" tall.

This calabash is of traditional Hawaiian form. It is softly angled from the shoulder to the rim and the bottom is flat, showing four plugs where the wood was attached to an early lathe. The bowl has two beautiful pegged butterfly repairs to cracks that started to develop near the top rim. The repairs are finely crafted with splines and have red sap or lacquer fill, indicative of early repairs. The inside of the bowl shows great wear from use, marks of hand-carving, and a very dark patina. The outside of the bowl has a smooth and beautiful, deep rich patina, with a soft lusterous surface.

Machine lathes were brought to and used in Hawaii as early as 1850. The early bowls that were made using a lathe were very highly valued by Hawaiians of the 19th century because they were so round, even, and perfectly shaped. Many Hawaiians of the era actually preferred these bowls and large numbers of them were commissioned to give to members of the Royal family on important occasions such as birthdays, etc.

Hawaiian bowls are hard to date exactly, but from my own experience, the patina, type of repairs, and the way the piece was made would date the manufacture of this bowl to the 1870 - 1890 period.

This calabash is in good ethnographic condition, as shown in the photographs. Aside from the butterfly repairs there is glue-repaired crack to one side, measuring about 3.5" and ending in a small drilled hole (a native way to stop the crack from extending further ... see photos). There is the usual old wear to the bottom of the piece and some light scratches to the outside surfaces . The grain is very beautifully figured and glows and shimmers when moved in the light. There are more golden - yellow highlights in the grain than the photographs show.

This is a large and fine example and was treasured as a ceremonial heirloom object, as well as a utilitarian vessel, by the Hawaiian family that once owned it, as evidenced by the careful repairs.