Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

It belonged to my first husband, and we were married in 1978. And as long as I can remember, we've had it. I believe it probably came through his family. They can trace their roots all the way back to Fort Boonesborough in Kentucky.

APPRAISER

And what do you think it is?

GUEST

I've always thought it was a pestle.

APPRAISER

And from where?

GUEST

That I don't know.

APPRAISER

Kentucky?

GUEST

From Kentucky, yeah.

APPRAISER

Okay. It's from Hawaii.

GUEST

From Hawaii.

APPRAISER

It's from Hawaii.

GUEST

Oh, my goodness.

APPRAISER

And it's called... generally they're called poi pounders. They use the poi, and they grind it, and it's a food in Hawaii. They come in all sorts of sizes. There's a larger one than this, which is basically the masher in the beginning, which really does the hard work for it.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

And then you get down to this one, which is the more sort of getting to the end. They're made out of this volcanic stone.

GUEST

Oh, my goodness.

APPRAISER

Very ergonomic shape. It's absolutely perfect. It fits perfectly in the hand, and then they would just go about mashing it from side to side like that. It's got wear on the side of it. This one has definitely been used. I would say with the wear, it's probably early 19th century. A retail price for this would be in the region of about $1,800 to $2,200.

GUEST

Wow. Yeah. I had no idea. And all this time we thought it came from Kentucky. (laughs)