A superb Hawaiian bowl, Hawaii

'umeke poi kou, of tall rounded form with intermittent indigenous repairs including rows of pegs, notches, butterflies and resin; handwritten label '279' in black ink on inside; exceptionally fine and glossy reddish brown patina.

Dr. R. M. Browne, Honolulu (accession no. '279')
George Ortiz, Geneva
Sotheby's, London, June 29, 1978, lot 229
Acquired at the above auction

The Honolulu Academy of Art, Honolulu, Hawaii, An Exhibition of Oceanic Arts from Collections in Hawaii, February 23 - April 9, 1967

The Honolulu Academy of Art (ed.), An Exhibition of Oceanic Arts from Collections in Hawaii, Honolulu, 1967, p. 7, note after item 18

Good condition overall for an object of this type and age. Two intersecting age cracks with traditional repair. Very minor surface abrasions from traditional use.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Hawaiian bowls from the Rosenthal Collection echo the collectors' affinity for purity of form.

Traditionally, Hawaiian bowls were created for everyday usage, in particular, food storage. Carved from a variety of native woods, kou was favored because is was soft and resistant to checking that may be caused by going from wet to dry constantly. The beautiful repairs have particular names: the butterfly repair, pewa; the rectangular patches, huni; and the small tapered plugs, kepa (Mack 1980: 62). See also Jenkins (1989) for related historical descritions of Hawaiian bowls and the variation of styles.