Moana Whanau
This toki is made from the rare and beautiful Marsden Flower Jade, or Putiputi.
The notches in the side are for his two children. The wave is to represent the deep connection with Te Moana – The Ocean he has, particularly through waka ama.
I loved carving this wave. The lines came up so clean and with the recessed top it really separates it from the rest of the toki, almost like it is alive an coming out of the pounamu.
This toki was a good size to do the lashing in an uncommon way. Without a hole for the necklace to go through. It make the lashing fully functional rather than decorative. I recorded process here to see how it comes about.
Here is the slice that we started with and a work in progress shot of the toki halfway done.
