Hawaiian? tiki type carving - koa?

This one has some good size to it 15" tall. It's a nice oddly shaped hunk of wood but balances and stands just fine on it's flat base. - I'm thinking Koa wood? I'm guessing this was probably a touristy type carving at some point - although seems to have a few years on it. Hawaiian? - guess that's the only place Koa would come from?

Thanks for taking a look!

First pic is the color as I found it. The rest of the pics are after polishing it. I have a habit of polishing wood carvings I find -at least hardwood ones. I went over it with a very light oil - and it darkened it up quite a bit as witnessed by the rest of the pics.

 

I cannot say much about the origin of the item (Hawaii seems plausible), but I would like to suggest that it will be a sad day when you acquire an object of genuine ethnographic importance and decide to oil and polish it. Preserving an original/as found surface can add significant value (monetary and otherwise).

 

Okay then - it's a bad habit - that I need to stop! Thanks 2many - honestly need this type of feedback.

 

That's what it looks like to me.

 

it is Hawaiian. If it were mine, I'd use it as a fish dispatcher ...that doesn't mean I don't like it, just that I need a new fishing club!!

 

These are sold in Hawaiian tourist shops, but I would suspect that most are carved elsewhere. There would be more chance of it actually being made in Hawaii if it were signed, which it doesn't appear to be.

The style is only loosely based on traditional Hawaiian tiki carvings. The way the eyes are carved, for instance, plus the way it is made to follow the form of the limb, rather than standing up straight, and the wood itself, are not traditional. It is more a version of what tourists expect to see as "Hawaiian," a possible result of the number of souvenirs that are actually made in Asia, by Chinese, Philippine, or Indonesian carvers.

Most of these eventually end up in mainland thrift shops.

 

Thank you Taupou, there's what might be initials on the back, I'll get a better picture posted, but I'll take your opinion that it's most likely a non Hawaiian made - hawaiian "style" touristy piece as very likely.

 

It's koa and Taupou's given an excellent explanation, thanks!

 

I'll probably keep it by the bedside to ward off, or pummel, intruders. I think it would do well for putting fish out of their misery as well.

 

Here's the area that might be a sig...

 

it's a club - doubt that would have much tourist appeal as display potential is limited (can't stand up) - I think it is Hawaiian and if it is Koa, unlikely to be carved elsewhere ...

 

Reminded me of the tv show The Brady Bunch Hawaii trip. Lol

 

I agree with Blooey - "if it is Koa, unlikely to be carved elsewhere" and yes, it is signed. No idea who signed it. In retrospect, I do not think this root or limb to be a Hawaiian souvenir, per se, but rather just a stick of valuable wood lightly carved by a non-serious wood worker. Mikey, I've never seen another.

 

I agree, it is unlikely that koa wood would be exported to be carved elsewhere with a Hawaiian subject.

 

That's assuming that the wood actually is Hawaiian koa (acacia koa). There's a good article from the Honolulu Starbulletin that addresses the fake imported "koa" wood products made from Australian blackwood, that have been flooding the market:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/02/03/business/index2.html

The other problem I'm seeing with this item is assuming that it is signed. Although the markings do resemble an "A", it is unlikely that it represents a signature, which would commonly be found on the bottom or base of the item, not hidden in a knot, where you have to search for it.

As has been pointed out, authentic Hawaiian koa wood is very expensive, and becoming scarce. While it may have been used for inexpensive souvenir items years ago, that would not be the case when this item was made.