Bowl, Hawaiian Islandsumeke lā'au puahala height 5 1/4in (13.2cm)diameter 7 1/4in (18.3cm)ProvenanceKauikehaouli (King Kamehameha III) (1813-1854)Benjamin Franklin Dillingham (1844-1918), Hawai'iWalter Francis Dillingham (1875-1963), Hawai'iThence by descent through the Dillingham FamilyMark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection; Honolulu, Hawai'iAustralian Private Collection, acquired from the above in July 2017Kauikehaouli, (King Kamehameha III) (1813-1854), was the third King of Hawai'i, reigning from 1825 to 1854. He was the longest reigning Hawaiian monarch, (29 years, 192 days). Benjamin Franklin Dillingham (1844-1918) was a prominent, wealthy businessman of Hawai'i, who, amongst other business ventures, founded the Oahu Railway and Land Company, and was heavily involved with several sugar plantations, including the Ola'a Sugar Company, and the Kahuku and Ewa sugar plantations. Walter Francis Dillingham (1875-1963), was the son of the above Benjamin Franklin Dillingham. He developed the businesses founded by his father, and greatly expanded the family business interests, becoming known as 'The Baron of Hawaiian Industry'.This superb and early bowl, most likely stone carved from kou wood, exhibits pre-contact patination repairs; the fine varied light and dark brown "marbled" surface with original kukui nut oil finish and indigenous repairs including a square-form poho patch to the bottom and huini patches along other cracks.