Toki me Koru
This pounamu is a cool combination of a toki and a koru
It is made from gorgeous marsden flower jade – putiputi. The bottom edge of the toki hints at some colour and the back shows the full spectrum of the flower jade.
I’m pleased to share one of my creations, a large Pounamu Toki carved from Kawakawa Pounamu sourced from the sacred Arahura River. This piece stands out not only for its size—an impressive 85mm in length—but also for its unique features and deep symbolism. I’ve named this piece Whakairo Tūmanako, which means “Carving Hope.” I chose…
This is a beautiful form. I fell in love with it more as I carved it. The koru traditionally represents, new growth and challenges, new beginnings or a fresh start. The shape comes from the new shoots of ferns in the nghere, the bush as they unfurl to become the new fronds of the plant….
Classic Toki style, made from Kawa Kawa Pounamu from the Arahura River. 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 cutting down trees, carving out canoes/waka,…
This is what is sounds like, a toki with a pikorua carved into it. The pikorua is on the back. The 5 notches on the sides are to represent whanau members. It is interesting to see some of the process to carve the pikorua into this toki.
This set is for a husband and wife. It is to connect them with each other and with their three children. They are carved from the same slice of pounamu. They lay side by side, literally connected, for a very long time until they were separated for this set. The three spiraling korus on each…
Deep within the embrace of Aotearoa, where the Douglas Creek flows with the wisdom of the ages, there emerges a Pounamu set that is the very essence of New Zealand’s spirit. Named Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho, meaning ‘Legacy Treasures,’ this set comprises a toki and a roimata pendant, each carved from the same slice of…