This gorgeous Hei Tiki is a very modern cubist style, handcrafted from an exceptional piece of Kokopu Pounamu. The colour of this Pounamu is wonderful, such a very interesting moss olive green with tan speckles and makes this a truly unique taonga. This already magical carving is further enhanced by the gorgeous pale pink Paua shell eyes, carved by a master carver.
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.
Kokopu- Greenstone from the West Coast Taramakau River area, West Coast. Comes in many colour variations from light to dark browns, creamy whites, light blues, olive greens to yellow even golden. Also known as trout-stone named after the dark brown, olive green and yellowish markings found on the three species of native freshwater trout. The spotted textures and range of colour give this stone a diverse presence.
Paua Shell
– Abalone, our Paua shell is rich and deep in iridescent colours unique to New Zealand. Found all around the rocky shoreline coast but grows best in southern waters. Paua shell has been traditionally used by Maori to illuminate the eyes & features of carvings and artwork. While Paua sits within the abalone family, which is found in other parts of the world, namely, South America, Australia, Western North America, and Japan, our Paua's hidden, bright multi-coloured interior shell is only found in New Zealand.
Mother of pearl
– The iridescent inside lining of a mollusc shell, commonly found in oysters, freshwater mussels, and abalone (paua).It is strong, resilient, and very iridescent. This multicoloured iridescence is caused by the way the light reflects on the layers of the shell.
A protection shell/stone that brings the gentle healing power of the sea to you.As a stress relieving stone, it brings relaxation and soothing to its wearer and the ability to calm emotion.Mother of Pearl also stimulates intuition, imagination, sensitivity, and adaptability.
Hand Carved by Tim Steel
Size: 93mm long x 50mm wide x 14mm 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.
