Raukaraka Pounamu Roimata

Description

The Roimata is a form often worn to carry meaning through life’s changing seasons. It can represent remembrance, personal growth, strength through challenge, or a connection to people and places that remain important to us. Simple in shape but rich in meaning, the Roimata allows the wearer to bring their own story to the taonga.

This 70mm Roimata is carved from Raukaraka Pounamu, a stone known for its remarkable variation in colour and texture. One side displays pale green tones with warm orange Raukaraka colouring, while the reverse is filled with darker inclusions that create a completely different character. During tumbling, these inclusions wore at a different rate to the surrounding stone, creating a naturally textured surface that feels organic in the hand. The result is a highly tactile taonga that invites touch and rewards closer inspection.

The shape follows the classic Roimata form, with a straight flowing profile and a rounded base. A black spiral lashing completes the piece, providing contrast to the colours of the stone while allowing the natural beauty of the Pounamu to remain the focus.

Size: 70mm

Material: Raukaraka Pounamu/Nephrite

Location: Hokitika

Carver: Campbell Potter