North America, Hawaiian Islands, ca. 19th century CE. A sizeable and heavy cast-iron pestle meant for pounding taro root into poi. This pounder has a knob-shaped handle, a thick neck, and a pounding surface which gradually widens towards a rounded face. The surfaces have been painted with a bituminous black pigment, and the surfaces are slightly rough to the touch. Typical poi pounders are carved from basalt or porous volcanic stone, so this iron example is exceedingly rare! Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 3.75" W x 5.75" H (9.5 cm x 14.6 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.

Poi pounders, alongside adzes, were the most important stone tools in Hawaii (Europeans introduced steel weapons). They are used for pounding cooked taro root into poi, a stable of the 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.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133628

Age-commensurate surface wear and abrasions, small nicks to rim of pounding face, and light discoloration.