CHUUK, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

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An elegant and finely carved pounder made from a single piece of white sea coral, comprising a flat handle adorned by four equidistantly carved relief nipples and a tubular neck that broadens to a generous pounding surface. This pestle was intended for pulverizing edible roots and fruits, primarily breadfruit and taro root, into poi. The pounded substance was then blended with water into a highly nutritious paste.

Traditional calabash bowls were used as containers to hold poi mixtures, and traveling royalty were accompanied by their own poi maker, with his or her own poi-making implements like this one. As there was a lack of stone on a Micronesian Coral Atoll, Kanakas used coral to create such pounders.

In good condition with smooth surface to base of pounder, indicating decades of use. Small loss to side of finial.

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