item details
Overview
This ku'ete (bowl) made of wood has been shaped like a large kuru (breadfruit) leaf with the stem as a handle. It has a flat narrow rim, two short heart-shaped legs on the base, and has been rubbed down with local coconut oil.
Origin
The ku'ete was made in Mauke, probably in 1992, by Vavia Pate and the men of the Mauke Carving Workshop, which was established in the Cook Islands in 1992.
Form and function
In the Cook Islands, wooden bowls vary in name, size, shape, and features. Often made of tamanu wood, the small to medium sized bowls are used for domestic purposes and the larger bowls for feasts. Ku'ete from the Cook Islands are usually oval or round in shape, with an upward projecting rim.
Acquisition
This ku'ete was purchased by Richard Walter on behalf of the National Museum (Te Papa's predecessor) in 1993.