Fine Books & Manuscripts

STEVENSON, Robert Louis (1850-1894). Ceremonial Feast Kava Bowl with Engraved Metal Plaque, Used to Prepare All of Stevenson’s Food During His Visit to Chief Ori A Ori in Tahiti. [Tauitira, Tahiti, 1888]. Hand-carved from Kou wood (a soft but durable wood often chosen for its physical properties as well as its aesthetic appeal of excellent contrasting colors), this handsome example of late-19th century Oceanic Arts is an outstanding example of ethnographic art. It has eight legs and what appears to be an animal’s head. After it had been carved, it would have been soaked in water and nut oil, and then polished to a glossy finish. A bowl of this size would have been used by high status members of tribal societies, who would use this bowl to cook for special guests. In this case, that guest was Robert Louis Stevenson, a guest of Ori A Ori of Tautira, Tahiti, a local chief. Ori invited Stevenson to his home, and after some adjustment, Stevenson became enamored with the lifestyle that Ori lived. Ori and Stevenson became fast friends, and exchanged names in the custom of Ori’s people; Ori became RUI, and Stevenson became “Terri-tera.” When Stevenson arrived in Tahiti, he suffered from chronic illness; Princess Moe (a grandmother from the Tahitian royal class, renowned for her great beauty and command of English) visited Stevenson several times a day with specially-prepared meals that helped Stevenson recover. Fanny (Stevenson’s wife, 1840-1914) believed Princess Moe’s care saved Stevenson’s life. The bowl is approximately 26 ½” in diameter, 9 ½” tall, with a depth of 5 ½ to 6”; the rim is 2 to 2 ¼” wide. Some wear, marginal chipping to the rim, some wear due to age and wear, with a stain in the center bottom of the bowl. Provenance: this comes with a small circular metal plaque with the following inscription: “On This Papahia All of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Food Was Prepared During His Visit to His Blood Brother Ori A Ori of Tautita [sic] in Tahiti in 1888” (plaque is not currently attached, but can easily be attached with a wire - plaque is tarnished). This bowl was acquired by the Spreckles Sugar family’s patriarch, Adolf Claus J. Spreckles (1828-1908, the “Sugar King”), and was passed down through his family (from Claus to J. D. Spreckles, to Grace Spreckles Hamilton, to Mary Leila Spreckles Hamilton, to Peter Kitterage Lewis, who sold it in 2007). Claus Spreckles was a major industrialist during the Kingdom, Republican, and Territorial periods of Hawaii’s history. When Stevenson left Tahiti in December of 1888 and traveled to Hawaii around June, 1889, he must have given or sold this bowl to Spreckles when they crossed paths during Stevenson’s time in Hawaii (after Hawaii, Stevenson left for Samoa around November or December of 1889, where he remained until his death in 1894). (Note: Stevenson had around 4 bowls of this nature in his possession - this is the largest piece with the best provenance). This is only the third time this treasure has been offered to the public.