Carved Wood Umete Bowl, Polynesian Feast Dish, Mid-Century

Beautiful Carved Wooden Sushi Boat
Carved wooden Sushi Boat in good condition.
No known maker or date.
Circa mid 20th century
Information Below is as per previous owner of Estate Sale;
An impressive feast dish known as an umete, skillfully hand-carved from a single piece of wood in the form of a canoe with a slightly rounded base and thick walls that taper to an ovoid rim above a shallow basin. The stern and bow of the fine vessel extend outwards, forming lengthy handles and allowing the dish to be easily carried. Umete were high status bowls used to serve food at communal feasts throughout Polynesia. Size: 25 1/2" long x 4 3/4 wide x 1 3/4 deep

According to the British Antique Dealers’ Association, “The introduction of metal tools and nails helped and allowed this brief, but dramatic efflorescence in Austral carving. The profusely ornamented artefacts finding a ready market amongst the visitors to the Islands. Before the beginning of the 19th century much was left plain with subtle partly carved shapes as the wood was stone carved. W. Ellis in his ‘Polynesian Researches’ (1829II:181) states that dishes such as this example were used to rinse the hands before eating. Food was also served and eaten from wooden dishes of varying sizes each with a distinctive oval shape and with a raised projection on the rim at the wider end. So it is probable that these dishes were used for both purposes