An Hawaiian God image of volcanic stone
Rare Worked God Image, Kona, Hawaii
Akua pohaku. From volcanic stone.
Ex. J.E. Reinecke, collected while conducting an archaeological survey of Kona, Hawaii in 1929-1930;
Ex. Bonham’s African and Oceanic Art, December 2, 2015; lot 67; sale number: 22484.
Thence by descent.
Catalogue note: "According to Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck), ‘stone was used a good deal to represent family or craft gods ('aumakua). Some individuals were content to use pieces of unworked stone, whereas other made rough representations of the human figure. It should be remembered that it was not the workmanship but the prayers and offerings which gave a material object power (mana) and converted it into a god, no matter what the form.’ Arts and Crafts of Hawaii, 1957, p. 495."
Height: 10 in / 25.4 cm;
Width at the bottom: 6 in. / 15.24 cm.;
Depth: 5 in. / 12.70 cm.;
Weight: 16 lbs. / 7.2 kg.
Mounted on a custom base. There are small specks of white paint or pigment on the stone, original to its presentation at Bonham’s.