This set of toki is made for two siblings, to have a tangible connection with each other as well as their home.
It is precious to be able to see a snapshot of the process of shaping pounamu from its rough form through to the taonga that it will be for many years to come.
In the realm of traditional carving, every piece has its own tale to tell, a story that interweaves art, symbolism, and deep-rooted culture. Today, I am excited to unveil two exquisite pieces from my collection, carefully hand-carved from a unique slice of pounamu, or New Zealand greenstone. Both hailing from the same stone, these two…
This is a stunning example of classic kawa kawa pounamu. It is from the Arahura river. 8cm long. The Toki was a originally a tool used by Maori. The pounamu was painstakingly shaped into heavy and robust forms and could be either lashed to a handle or held in the hand. They were used for…
Marsden flower jade, also known as putiputi pounamu, is a treasure. Its swirling greens and vibrant flashes of orange evoke the beauty and vitality of the New Zealand bush. It’s a rare and precious type of pounamu, making it even more special to work with. This toki, measuring 7cm long, showcases the full spectrum of…
The niho represents strength, leadership, and resilience. Commonly associated with the whale or the shark, both powerful creatures. This set is made for two people that share the kaupapa. The pounamu for each is different and this is to reflect each wearer. The connection is through the symbol and the carving process of them being…
These three pieces were made for speakers at a conference. I love the colours in the flower jade kuru. The tokis are super long and based on old functional designs that are now displayed in museums and books as historical examples. The photos on the black seem a bit overexposed and bright with really strong…
This set was made for two people that were made for each other. A matching set that will be able to show the abstract concepts of love and connection and commitment that being wed to another is about. You can see in this image how they were sitting in the piece of pounamu before being…