Wedding Set – Kea

This set was made as a gift for a special couple to mark their wedding day.

It is carved from a gorgeous serpentine pounamu that has some interesting gold and black inclusion that give it character and personality. You can definitely tell these two are made from the same pounamu.

Having a set come from the same piece of pounamu is significant. This material was formed under immense pressure and heat deep under the ground eons ago, and has lay side by side since. The links to life and relationships is the same in that they are formed through shared experience that forever connect us. Now while these are two separate pendants they will forever be linked just as the two getting married will be.

The Koru is a shape found in many places in nature. An obvious one is in the fern frond. It is the shape the frond first takes as it emerges from the center of the plant surrounded by the mature fronds and nestled among other young fronds. As it grows it slowly unfurls itself as it fully matures.

The Koru has two aspects, it represents new beginnings, growth, movement, change, and being open. It can also represent protecting, connection with others, nurturing, and when interlocked with other Koru it represents loving relationships and family/whanau.

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, or carving designs into meeting houses/marae.

A finer version with a more delicate Toki lashed to an elaborately carved handle were reserved for powerful cheifs/rangatira. These were used for ceremonial purposes, they are called ‘Toki Poutangata’.

The modern Hei Toki, often worn around the neck as a pendant, represents foremost strength, authority, and leadership. It is can also a symbol of power, courage, wisdom, determination, self-control, and focus.

This one has a special meaning and symbol carved into it. It is the symbol of the keas beak, the native alpine parrot of New Zealand.

The Kea is an inquisitive and bold parrot, often earning the descriptor of cheeky. Known for hanging out in ski field carparks and pulling rubber off cars, or getting into people belongs left around, apparently for entertainment. These characteristics are a part of the personality of the owner of this pounamu as well, while not word for word and you won’t find him rifling through your belongings, the cheeky part is evident.