Skip to main content
Coconut Grating Stool, 20th Century
Nukuoro style; Pohnpei, Senyavin Islands, Federated States…
Coconut Grating Stool
Coconut Grating Stool, 20th Century
Nukuoro style; Pohnpei, Senyavin Islands, Federated States…
Coconut Grating Stool, 20th Century Nukuoro style; Pohnpei, Senyavin Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Micronesia Wood and metal; 17 × 24 3/4 × 12 1/2 in. 2020.6.1a,b Gift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne

Coconut Grating Stool

ClassificationsFurnishings-Furniture-stools
Date20th Century
Made AtFederated States of Micronesia
MediumWood and metal
DimensionsStool with blade: 17 × 24 3/4 × 12 1/2 in. (43.2 × 62.9 × 31.8 cm)
Stool: 17 × 23 1/2 × 12 1/2 in. (43.2 × 59.7 × 31.8 cm)
Blade: 4 1/16 × 1 7/8 in. (10.3 × 4.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne
Object number2020.6.1a,b
DescriptionCoconut grating stools were dual purpose seats and graters used to shred the meat inside coconuts. The stools typically have a serrated piece of shell or other type of sharp material that was used to assist in this process. While many known examples of these stools were made in Nukuoro, similar pieces were crafted throughout Micronesia for the same purpose. The minimalistic carving seen in this stool is typical of Nukuoro and are considered staples of Micronesian culture to the degree that they have been described as “characteristically Micronesian.” That this stool was collected in Pohnpei may speak to any number of factors including an increase in trade throughout the 20th century.
On View
On view
Collections
Coconut Grating Stool, 19th Century
Nukuoro, Caroline Islands, Micronesia
Wood; 14 x 26 x 13 …
Nukuoro
19th Century
Stool, 20th Century
Lobi culture; Burkina Faso
Wood and metal; 4 3/4 × 33 × 6 in.
2017.11.50…
Lobi
20th Century
Chief's Stool (No Oanga), late 19th Century
Cook Islands, Polynesia
Wood; 5 1/2 × 18 1/4 × 8 …
late 19th Century
Ceremonial Stool (Dujo), 1000-1500 CE
Taíno culture; Haiti or Dominican Republic, Caribbean
W…
Taíno
1000-1500 CE
Stool, 20th Century
Lobi culture; Burkina Faso
Wood; 11 × 22 × 5 3/8 in.
2017.11.48
Gift of…
Lobi
20th Century
Caryatid Stool, 20th Century
Hemba culture; Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood and metal; …
Hemba
20th Century
Prestige Stool, 20th Century
Ashanti people; Ghana
Wood; 14 x 25 3/4 x 13 in.
92.16.3
Gift …
Ashanti
20th Century
Stool Bowl, 20th Century
Africa
Wood; 5 × 20 × 8 in.
2020.14.103
Gift of Anne and Long Shun…
20th Century
Coconut Grater, 20th Century
Wuvulu Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia
Wood,…
20th Century
Orator's Stool (Teket), 20th Century
Iatmul culture; Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Pro…
Iatmul
20th Century
Headrest, 20th Century
Dinka culture; South Sudan
Wood and metal; 8 1/4 × 23 × 7 1/8 in.
201…
Dinka
20th Century
Headrest, early 20th Century
Dinka culture; South Sudan
Wood and metal; 12 × 26 3/4 × 5 in.
…
Dinka
early 20th Century