5cm Traditional Toki









The phrase “Tū Kotahi” in Māori means “standing together as one”. It’s the perfect name for the special set of toki I recently had the privilege to carve for a father and son in France. The toki is a traditional Māori taonga (treasure) pendant, shaped like an adze, a woodworking tool important in our culture….
In the quiet embrace of Kaitorete Spit/Birdlings Flat in Canterbury, New Zealand, nature bestowed a humble gift—a beach pebble of Jasper, weathered by time and tides. From this unassuming stone, a short, wide toki emerged, standing at a mere 4cm in height, yet carrying a profound weight of meaning. This toki, cradled by a four-braid…
I had the privilege of carving a special set of Pounamu, named Tatau Pounamu, commissioned by a father for himself and his children. “Tatau Pounamu” translates to “The Unbroken Bond,” symbolising the unbreakable connection between the father and his children, who live with their mother. Despite the distance, these pendants serve as a reminder of…
Traditional inganga toki, about 8cm long. I really like the character the seams and healed fractures add to this piece. They look really good with the honey coloured lashing too. It is always interesting to see the transformation from a rough block of pounamu into the finished toki.
This is a Toki Whao carved from basalt, or Ōnewa, sourced from Banks Peninsula in Canterbury, South Island of New Zealand. This piece is 5cm long and showcases the dark grey hues of the basalt stone, which contrast beautifully with the tan lashing cord. The Toki Whao represents a traditional Māori chisel, a tool used…
This is a beautiful and well proportioned toki make from kawakawa pounamu that has a striking patterning to it. I was very impressed when the final polish had been completed on this. A friend commented that the patterning reminds her of water swirling around a coast line. Since then that is all I could see…