Antique Polynesian Kava Bowl in Turtle Form

A fine old Polynesian kava bowl, Tonga, early 20th century; in…
click the photo to enlarge
A fine old Polynesian kava bowl, Tonga, early 20th century; in the form of a traditional stylized turtle with four legs and old patina from extensive use. Provenance: Francis Edgar Williams (1893-1953) Williams was the assistant government anthropologist in Papua in 1922-24 and a keen collector of Ethnography, diameter 53 cm, height 17.5 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.

    As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.

    Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A large zinc bath with embossed detail, French, 19th century. 70 cm high, 150 long and 64 cm deep

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Barry Brickell & Fatu Feu'u, kava bowl, a collaborative terracotta kava bowl on eight legs with impressed frangipani motifs. Height 13 cm. Diameter 39 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A rare contact period very large Matai food bowl (kumete). Found at Ngaere, South Taranaki. Square projection to one side with projecting tiki figure to opposite side (head broken off). Hole to one side near base. Length 85.5 cm. Depth 25.5 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Phillipe Starck (French, b. 1949). Bubu stool manufactured by XO, light brown

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.