Moko Pounamu Hei Tiki Genuine Whale Bone Carving - Waingaro
A gorgeous Hei Tiki hand carved from ethically sourced Whale Bone, with Paua inlay eyes highlighting the attention to detail that makes this carver stand out. This carving is a very special taonga that will be passed through many generations and treasured by those who have the honour of being its caretaker.
Hei Tiki- The exact meaning behind the stylized design is deeply rooted in traditional Māori pakiwaitara (stories) and has been interpreted in a few different ways. In Māori legend, Tiki was the first mortal man created by Tāne (the god of the forest), making the carving a symbol of humankind's origins and lineage. Another widely held belief is that the figure represents Hine-te-iwaiwa, the moon goddess and patroness of fertility and childbirth. Because of its shape, many also interpret the design as a stylization of the human embryo. The distinct carved head tilted to the side is believed to symbolize a newborn child or spiritual wisdom. Additionally, the figures frequently display a blend of both male (Tāne) and female (Wāhine) features, representing the balance of life's energies.
Whale Bone has always been a special medium for Māori artists, Whales are considered a taonga species, and represent abundance, richness and were regarded as chiefly animals. Some tribes see whales as the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean and stranding’s are seen as gifts from Tangaroa and carving them is a way of honouring that gift. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Māori as both supernatural beings and as harbingers of personal change and spiritual growth.
Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from the Chatham Islands.
Charles Raponi Wilson is one of New Zealand's most loved carvers, Charles "Charlie" Wilson, highlights his exquisite skill and attention to detail. Wilson is recognised as a leading carver of Hei Tiki, drawing inspiration from ancestral Taonga. He has been carving since the 1960s and has created several thousand Hei Tiki. His carved Tiki rarely come to market and are highly sought after. Wilson was also commissioned by New Zealand Post, along with other leading New Zealand artists, to carve a Hei Tiki to feature on their annual Matariki stamp series. In 2010, his design was selected to feature on New Zealand's most valuable legal tender coins—the 1oz gold coin and the 1oz silver coin.
Carved by Charlie Raponi Wilson
Size 104mm long x 56mm wide x 16mm thick
This will be the exact piece you will receive in the photos, there may be a slight degree of colour variation based on different computer or device screen resolutions that you are viewing from.
