19th CENTURY HAWAIIAN KOA POI CALABASH BOWL - family heirloom from great-uncle For Sale

This exquisite 19th-century Hawaiian poi bowl, is believed my family to have been hand crafted from wood of the kou tree by my great-great uncle,Augusto Dias, who was one of the three inventors of the Ukulele. He was a marceneiro, or cabinetmaker from the Portuguese island of Madeira, arriving in Honolulu on the Ravenscrag ship in 1879, after a four-month voyage where they survived on a diet of a thin soup made from salt pork and beans, rationed hard tack, and a meager breakfast of mealy corn mush. Around 1884, he opened his woodworking business in Chinatown at 11 King Street. No one can definitively say who crafted the first 'ukulele,' but it is broadly agreed that my great-great uncle, along withManuel Nunes and Jose do Espirito Santo all had a hand in converting the Madeiran machete into the Hawaiian ukulele.

I received the bowl from my mother, who received it from her mother, (my grandmother), who received it from her mother, who was the daughter of Augusto Dias. It's been a cherished heirloom within our family for generations. Passed down from my grandmother to my mother and then to me, this bowl symbolizes our deep-rooted connection to traditional Hawaiian culture and craftsmanship.

The bowl has been wonderfully preserved, with graceful tapering sides, and a fine naturally varied light and dark brown patina, a zigzag crack and several lovely repair patches, including on the bottom, that tell the story of its long and storied history. Somebody really loved this bowl and its repairs signify deep respect. It was treasured enough to undergo repair with the desire to make the repair itself beautiful.This unique piece, rich in cultural and familial significance, offers a rare opportunity to own a tangible piece of Hawaiian (and Portuguese) history.

Dimensions:
Height: approx 6.75 inches
Diameter of top opening: approx 8.5 inches Diameter of base: approx 6.0 inches
Circumference at widest area: approx 29 inches

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