Presents:

The Royal Slates

Engraved Roof Tiles from Hawaii's Iolani Palace
By Monte Hull

Kauai artist, Monte Hull practices an unusual art form - he engraves tropical scenes, ships, birds and marine life on slate roof tiles from Iolani Palace.

The only royal palace in the United States, lolani was built in 1882 for King David Kalakaua. It underwent a major renovation in 1975, which included the removal of the original slate tiles from the palace's roof. Scrimshaw artist, and experimentalist, Richard Hull( Monte's father) discovered that by using a tungsten-carbide tipped scribe, the slates could be engraved in much the same way scrimshaw is carved on ivory. Hull acquired the royal tiles from Honolulu Roofing Company before they were hauled away, and with his son, Monte, established themselves as the only engravers of royal slate in the world.

Although the slate spent nearly 100 years covering the palace, its geological age is closer to 120 million years and it often contains small fossils. It was imported from a Pennsylvania quarry by the king, who spared no expense in making the palace a showcase for the Hawaiian monarchy. Interestingly, when the palace was renovated 24 years ago, the replacement slate was obtained from the same Pennsylvania quarry.

Much of the slate, acquired by Hull, is so weathered that only one roof tile in ten is fully useable. The rest are broken down into smaller pieces of various shapes. Before engraving, each piece is shaped with a brick hammer and then sanded to prepare a good working surface. The surface is coated with a black acrylic wash. The slate is then ready to be engraved. Employing a carbide scribe for line work and a diamond scribe for stippling, the scene that emerges appears white against the dark surface of the slate. The depth of the cut determines the intensity of the light's reflection. When viewed, under direct light, the engraving appears to sparkle. Unfortunately, this effect cannot be replicated by any means, so the only way to truly appreciate this unique art form is to see it with your own eyes.

Once the slate image is finished, it is signed and the title and date is etched on the back of the tile. It is then sprayed with a lightweight sealer and mounted on a polished Hawaiian koa wood stand. Properly handled, the finished work can last for centuries with little or no maintenance except for periodic dusting or wiping with a soft, clean cloth to remove dust or oil (from fingertips) which can interfere with the brightness of the cuts against the dark face of the tile.

Richard Hull has not engraved the royal slates for many years and Monte had pursued an academic career until recently. In March of this year (1999) Monte decided to resume his artistic career. By special arrangement with Monte Hull, Ship Store Galleries has been designated the exclusive showcase for the public sale of these historically important works of art. Each piece is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a copy of Richard Hull's original bill of sale, establishing the slate's royal heritage.