Bowl (tanoa or kumete ni yaqona)
- Culture
- Fijian artist
- Date
- 19th–20th century
- Material
- Wood, plant fiber
- Classification
- Containers, wood
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 108
- Dimensions
- 4 15/16 x 14 1/16 in. (12.5 x 35.7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 141:1978
NOTES
"Yaqona," or "kava," is a beverage produced by pressing and filtering the crushed roots of a pepper plant ("Piper methysticum") in a wide, flat bowl such as this. In Polynesia, only men are allowed to consume this beverage, with access at times limited to a chief. From ancient eras to the present day, consuming yaqona is an essential prelude to grand gatherings of chiefs and all ceremonial or political events. The consumption of yaqona observes a precise ritual. Young men prepare the beverage and present it in a drinking cup or bowl to each person in order of rank. The calming effects of yaqona are recognized as an aid to liberate speech and open up debates and discussion.
Provenance
- 1975
Maurice Bonnefoy (1920-1999), New York, NY and Paris, France
1975 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Maurice Bonnefoy [1]
1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated January 28, 1975 from Maurice Bonnefoy to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Kava bowl, of circular form, resting on four legs" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated August 24, 1978 from Morton D. May to James Wood includes the offer of this object as a gift to the Museum [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1978.
Maurice Bonnefoy (1920-1999), New York, NY and Paris, France
1975 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Maurice Bonnefoy [1]
1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated January 28, 1975 from Maurice Bonnefoy to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Kava bowl, of circular form, resting on four legs" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] A letter dated August 24, 1978 from Morton D. May to James Wood includes the offer of this object as a gift to the Museum [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1978.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.