Pheasant Wood Hand-Turned Vase c.1970s
Viridian Eclection
The Vase
A signed studio wood vase from Maui, Hawaii, hand turned from Pheasant Wood, known locally as Kolohala.
It stands approximately nine to ten inches high, with a tall waisted body, a gently flared rim and a circular foot. At that scale it has genuine sculptural presence.
The grain carries dramatic natural contrast: deep coffee brown to nearly black heartwood cut through with golden yellow to reddish striping. The tonal shifts read almost like flame or brushwork across the surface.
History & Provenance
The underside is hand incised "T.A. / Pheasant / Wood / Maui / HI," which identifies it as a signed Hawaiian studio craft piece. The initials are not attached to a fuller name, so the maker beyond those initials is unidentified.
Pheasant Wood, Cassia siamea, is known in Hawaii as Kolohala and is one of the rarest woods in the islands, often considered rarer than Koa. It is prized for its richly variegated coloration, and that feathered effect in the grain is the reason for the name.
The period is given as the 1960s into the 1970s, arrived at from the form, the signature convention and the studio craft context rather than from a date on the piece.
The vase has significant age and material related cracking along the rim and base, consistent with the movement sometimes seen in extremely dense hardwoods.
Product Details
| Form | Studio wood vase, sculptural vessel. Tall waisted body with flared rim and circular foot |
| Maker | Signed "T.A." Not further identified |
| Origin | Maui, Hawaii |
| Era | c. 1960s to 1970s |
| Materials | Pheasant Wood, Cassia siamea, known in Hawaii as Kolohala |
| Grain | Deep coffee brown to black heartwood with contrasting golden yellow and reddish striping |
| Color | Dark brown, blackened brown, honey gold and warm reddish undertones |
| Marks | Hand incised to the underside: "T.A. / Pheasant / Wood / Maui / HI" |
| Craftsmanship | Hand turned studio woodwork |
| Dimensions | Height approximately 9 to 10 inches. Diameter to be confirmed |
| Condition | Vintage condition with significant structural cracking at the rim and base, surface wear and natural variation consistent with age and material |
| Use | Decorative vase for display, best suited to dried stems or as a standalone sculptural object |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
The form is elegant, but the wood is what carries it. A material this scarce and this strongly figured makes the vase read as much as a natural artwork as a vessel.
At this height it holds a console, a shelf, a pedestal or a tabletop on its own, and the turning rewards being seen from every side rather than from one face.
The cracking is part of what the piece is. It records the movement of an exceptionally dense hardwood over decades, and it does little to diminish the visual impact of the object as sculpture. It belongs in an organic modern interior, or in a collection of Hawaiian studio craft where the material itself is the subject.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
