Auction Ends: Jul 23, 2012 02:00 AM HST

Antiques

19th Century Kou Wood Compote Bowl

Item Number: 181

Estimated Value: Priceless
Sold: 850 USD to HonuTom

Number of Bids: 25 - Bid History

Item Description

This is a rare find! It is an antique kou wood compote bowl. That would make it unique and valuable if we stopped right there but there's more. On the bottom it reads "Kou Wood Wood from the Sandwich Islands. Now extinct and much valued by the natives. (undecipherable but looks like someone's name) Nov. 11th 1873". Try and figure out the mystery of who wrote this description on the bottom by looking at the pictures.

To perhaps explain why the above says that Kou was an extinct wood: According to Native Trees and Shrubs of the Hawaiian Islands, "Kou was a favorite shade tree in old Hawaii but never became a forest tree. It was attacked by a moth and nearly exterminated."

This bowl is almost 140 years old and is made of a wood that even today is considered unusual. Perfect for the collector of antiques who has everything! Or for someone who enjoys a mystery!

Item Special Note

Winning bidder is responsible for shipping and Hawai`i State tax. We try our best to ship items as economically as possible. Most are shipped flat rate but larger or unusually shaped items may need to be shipped priority. Winning bidder is also responsible for postal insurance if the item’s value is over $1000.