Honolulu Fish. Not the ones swimming right this minute. A breathtaking collection of watercolors depicting Hawaiian fish, presumably created for a 1907 exhibit at the Honolulu Aquarium. Most of these are from the website of James E. Arsenault but the rest are from Bonhams Auctions. The provenance is from James Arsenault to a private collector in Hawaii who has put it up for bid with Bonhams scanning additional fish which I have picked up here.

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Honolulu fish exhibit. Opule. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu Fish exhibit. Nohu: Offered to the Gods as medicine. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Humuhumu: The legend of this fish is that he was once a solider of Kamapuaa,  who was born of woman, yet was a pig. He fought with Pele (Volcano) and after defeat turned fish as also his soldiers. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. A. Wela: A snoring and sleeping fish. Can be heard when in shallow water.ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Piopio: This fish was also offered to the Gods on opening of the fish season. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. A weo weo. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Pauuulua: Who catches this fish has good luck and a choice of the ladies. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
The way fish are carried in Honolulu. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Kuhonu. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Kaapeape: A deep water fish. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Artist not given. Image © 2023 James E. Arsenault & Company. Fair use license. via https://www.jamesarsenault.com/details.php?record=8141&jump=1&utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ne
Honolulu fish exhibit. Panuhunuhu. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Circle of Albertus Hutchinson Baldwin, artists. Image © Bonhams 2001-2024. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29341/lot/10/circle-of-albertus-hutchinson-baldwin-1845-1944-honolulu-fish-exhibit-a-set-of-thirty-four-works-each-9-58-x-11-12-in-244-x-292-cm-painted-circa-1904/
Honolulu fish exhibit. Lauhau. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Circle of Albertus Hutchinson Baldwin, artists. Image © Bonhams 2001-2024. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29341/lot/10/circle-of-albertus-hutchinson-baldwin-1845-1944-honolulu-fish-exhibit-a-set-of-thirty-four-works-each-9-58-x-11-12-in-244-x-292-cm-painted-circa-1904/
Honolulu fish exhibit. Hiuhanukuiwi. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Circle of Albertus Hutchinson Baldwin, artists. Image © Bonhams 2001-2024. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29341/lot/10/circle-of-albertus-hutchinson-baldwin-1845-1944-honolulu-fish-exhibit-a-set-of-thirty-four-works-each-9-58-x-11-12-in-244-x-292-cm-painted-circa-1904/
Honolulu fish exhibit. Manokihikihi. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Circle of Albertus Hutchinson Baldwin, artists. Image © Bonhams 2001-2024. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29341/lot/10/circle-of-albertus-hutchinson-baldwin-1845-1944-honolulu-fish-exhibit-a-set-of-thirty-four-works-each-9-58-x-11-12-in-244-x-292-cm-painted-circa-1904/
Honolulu fish exhibit. Moala. ca. 1904.  One of 34 original unsigned watercolors on paperboard mounts with gilt-bordered labels stating the exhibit, the Hawaiian name of the specimen, and often a succinct not of the specimen’s use or folklore. Circle of Albertus Hutchinson Baldwin, artists. Image © Bonhams 2001-2024. Fair use license. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29341/lot/10/circle-of-albertus-hutchinson-baldwin-1845-1944-honolulu-fish-exhibit-a-set-of-thirty-four-works-each-9-58-x-11-12-in-244-x-292-cm-painted-circa-1904/

Published by sarahbguestperry

On a voyage to see how much mileage I can get from the creative ability and eye for images that my family thought was useless. On line art curator, fiction writer and now blogger. Historian's daughter. Follow me . . .even I have no idea where I'm going next.

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