Ancient Toki Replica
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Pounamu, also known as New Zealand greenstone, holds immense cultural significance for the Maori people. It’s a vessel of stories, emotions, and traditions that span generations. The “Whānau Kotahi” set, which translates to “Unified Family”, is a beautiful embodiment of this sentiment. This particular set of four pendants, carved for a family of four –…
This is a hoi a made for a previous colleague that has just left the school we worked at together. The hoi is very appropriate and symbolic for the campus he worked at. They use a metaphor of paddling in a waka in how the staff work together as well as for the learning journey…
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 set is to mark a 50th, to connect two people, and connect to what is important to them. Nature, the outdoors, and adventures are a part of this couples life and the wave is a symbol of this that connects. The colors in this pounamu make me think of the ocean as well as…
The heart of Aotearoa New Zealand echoes with stories of resilience, of traditions ancient and new. As this pounamu took shape, bearing the name Kaitiaki – the Guardian, two cultures merged their tales, weaving a tapestry of love, strength, and unity. Kaitiaki stands not just as a pendant but as a symbol of protection, but…
This exquisite 5 cm toki pendant, crafted from inanga pounamu, captures the essence of whitebait swimming up the awa (river) in their annual migration. The toki’s classic colouring, with its subtle variations in silver and grey, perfectly mimics the appearance of whitebait as they navigate the freshwater currents. The toki’s smooth, polished surface reflects the…