This is part of a stunning series of Pounamu Bowls (Ipu Kōhatu). This piece is hand carved from a gorgeous piece of Tangiwai Pounamu with a bright band of Pīpīwharauroa shimmering through the middle.
Ipu Kōhatu- Pounamu (greenstone) bowls, are exquisite, hand-carved taonga (treasures) crafted from New Zealand nephrite jade, often used for display, holding small treasures, or ceremonial purposes. Hand carved from South Island pounamu (mostly Kawakawa or Tangiwai), these bowls are shaped using diamond-tipped tools or traditional grinding techniques, often polished to highlight the stone's natural beauty and veining.
While often used for modern decorative art, traditionally in a cultural context, specific bowls were used to hold water for the whakanoa ritual—a process of cleansing to remove tapu (sacred restrictions) from people, allowing them to return to a noa (ordinary/free) state, particularly after visiting cemeteries or sacred spaces.
Tangiwai
is the most ancient form of pounamu. It is bowenite rock, which is different in composition to the more common nephrite. A translucent to transparent olive green to bluish-green variety of serpentine most Tangiwai is sourced from two isolated areas at Piopiotahi (Milford Sound), Poison Bay and Anita Bay and deposits found in Nelson. Tangiwai takes its name from the tears that come from great sorrow. Tangi means "to cry" and Wai means "water", or "tears". Koko-Tangiwai, the longer name for this stone, refers to a deep sorrow that is never completely healed. There are many sad stories that tell of Tangiwai pounamu's origins.
Pīpīwharauroa- This is a rare and unique type of stone usually found in the Inanga, Tangiwai, Kawakawa and Nelson Pounamu varieties. Named after the shining cuckoo, the green and white shimmering plumage are like the thin bands of light that cause a chatoyant effect like a cat’s eye as the stone is moved about.
Hand Carved by Daryl Munro
Size 88mm long x 76mm wide 27mm high
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.
