Kiripaka Tohorā Niho Taonga
$260.00
This Niho taonga is carved from Kiripaka/Silcrete, a stone strongly connected to pre-European Māori use in Aotearoa. Traditionally valued for its hardness and ability to be shaped into tools and cutting edges, Kiripaka sits within the wider story of Taonga Kōhatu and the resourcefulness of Māori communities. This piece has been carved into a Niho form and finished with a five-hole ring bolt lashing in black, referencing traditional methods of binding and working with stone tools and taonga. The stone itself carries soft grey tones with subtle warm orange hints through the surface.
In stock
Description
This Niho taonga is carved from Kiripaka, also known as Silcrete, a hard stone material historically connected to the practical stone technologies used throughout pre-colonial Māori society in Aotearoa. Stones such as Kiripaka were shaped and worked into tools, cutting edges, and useful objects long before the arrival of metal tools, carrying with them a strong connection to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Māori stone-working traditions.
The form of this piece leans toward the shape of a Tohorā tooth, giving it a strong and natural presence. The Niho design traditionally symbolises strength, resilience, leadership, and determination, while the whale-like shaping adds another layer of connection to the ocean and the importance of Tohorā within Māori storytelling and the environment of Aotearoa.
The stone itself carries rich orange tones with darker brown patterning running through it, giving the taonga warmth and depth that stand apart from the more muted greys often seen in Kiripaka. The natural colouring creates an aged, earthy appearance that suits the material and its historical associations.
Rather than using a visible ring bolt lashing, this taonga has been carved with a hidden hole suspension. This allows both the front and back faces to remain uninterrupted when worn, keeping the focus on the natural shape and patterning of the stone itself. The piece hangs on a tan cord that complements the warm tones running through the Kiripaka.
Size: 70mm
Material: Silcrete/Kiripaka
Location: Canterbury
Carver: Campbell Potter
Additional information
| Weight | 0.2 g |
|---|
