This double-hulled Marquesan voyaging canoe draws inspiration from the late Herb Kawainui Kane’s evocative depictions of Oceanic canoes, particularly one that portrays an ancient voyaging vessel from the era of Eastern Polynesian exploration.
Crafted over several months, this model embodies several distinct characteristics of Marquesan canoes. Notably, it features an elongated bow, intricately carved with a human figure and face at its tip, as well as elevated aft pieces, each adorned with a tiki. The human figure at the bow is meant to protect the canoe and its crew, warding off malevolent spirits throughout their journey, while the tiki is believed to offer spiritual guardianship to the sailors.
The carvings are made from ebonized ulu wood, while the hulls and deck of the canoe are constructed from exquisite curly koa. The two hulls are connected by a series of 13 cross-beams, each meticulously bound with eight detailed lashings.
The sails, crafted from delicate veneer, pay homage to the ancient art of Oceanic sail-making, skillfully stitched together from lauhala matting.
Resting upon a base made from locally sourced Cuban mahogany and stunning spalted banyan wood, the canoe is as much a work of art as it is a tribute to the rich traditions of Polynesian voyaging.
Over the course of his 30-year career in building Oceanic canoes, Francis has only created three such models. One resides in a private collection in Beverly Hills, another on Lana’i, and the third is exclusively available at Martin & MacArthur.
DETAILS
-
Approx. 38" W x 11" D x 20" H
- Base Dimensions: 48" W x 16" D x 4" H
- Price includes custom shipping crate
SHIPPING
All shipments may take a MINIMUM OF FIVE BUSINESS DAYS to be received as we are shipping from Hawaii. Our shipping services do not guarantee two-day delivery from Hawaii. We will send an email notification when your order is shipped.
***PLEASE "CLICK HERE" FOR ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SHIPPING INFO***
