Pheasant Wood Hand-Turned Vase c.1970s

Description

A striking signed studio wood vase from Maui, Hawaii, hand-turned from Pheasant Wood, known locally as Kolohala. At approximately 9 to 10 inches in height, this piece has real sculptural presence, with a tall waisted silhouette, gently flared rim, and dramatic natural contrast throughout the grain. The form is elegant, but the wood is what truly carries it.

Known in Hawaii as Kolohala, Pheasant Wood is one of the rarest woods in the islands, often considered even rarer than Koa. It is prized for its richly variegated coloration, with deep coffee-brown to nearly black heartwood cut through by golden-yellow to reddish striping that gives the surface its unmistakable feathered effect. In this piece, those tonal shifts read almost like flame or brushwork, making the vase feel as much like a natural artwork as a functional object.

The underside is hand-incised “T.A. / Pheasant / Wood / Maui / HI,” identifying it as a signed Hawaiian studio craft piece. Its height and material make it especially compelling as a standalone decorative object on a console, shelf, pedestal, or tabletop, where the shape and grain can be appreciated from every angle.

As shown, the vase has significant age- and material-related cracking along the rim and base, consistent with the movement sometimes seen in extremely dense hardwoods. While this affects condition, it also underscores the organic nature of the piece and does little to diminish its visual impact as a sculptural display object.

Details