A very fine and unusually heavy pohaku ku’I poi or pounder for crushing taro into the pudding called poi. The pounder is extremely elegant with smooth balanced lines, a well-rounded under-belly and finely delineated top-knob.

Hawaiian Archipelago, Polynesia.
Fine dense gray basalt with the letter “A” incised into the top of the knob.

19 cm high x 14 cm diameter. 18th/19th century or earlier.

A faint painted inscription on the underside reads “WAK… HOARD” referring to the cache in which the pounder was found.
Provenance: Originally purchased in England.