Ipu kukui

Ipu Kukui. Stone lamp. This is a spherical mortar of pōhaku used as a lamp. It is grey in colour with darker variations around the cupped rim. The cupped depression is centred on the surface where ni'au (coconut frond midrib) would stand, skewered with kukui nuts (candle nuts). This would be lit from the top. The oil from the kukui kernels would cause them to burn for several minutes. Additionally, there is residue of faded white fibres which shows the use of a kapa (bark cloth) wick for burning. Its dark staining shows the results of burning and/or holding dye.