A gorgeous Koruru hand carved for a beautiful piece of Kawakawa Pounamu and set onto a wonderful carved Serpentinite Pounamu base, with fabulous colours graduating across the face, also resembling a whale tail a wonderful taonga for someone who is connected to their whakapapa.
Koruru
are architectural features on large whare tupuna or wharenui (meeting houses) that join the two-front facing maihi (barge boards) at the top apex. A koruru's face is also the face of the represented tupuna (ancestor) embodied in the carved constructed form of the whare tupuna. Many whare whakairo are named after ancestors. The building is regarded as an outstretched body. The koruru (gable head) is the face of the ancestor, the maihi (bargeboards) the arms, the kūwaha (door) the mouth, the tāhuhu (ridgepole) the spine, and the heke (rafters) the ribs.
Whale Tail- Muri Paraoa - meaning speed and strength. The Whale Tail represents the support often shown by dolphins and whales to humans in distress, therefore a symbol of protection. It expresses the respect for the sea and nature thus a symbol of good luck, providing safe passage over water. The Whale was the most important animal in the life of the Maori. Besides speed and strength, it also represents success, confidence, sensitivity, and the bond between animal and human.
Kawakawa- is the most common variety of Pounamu. It comes in many shades - from strong, rich green to dark green - and often has small dark flecks, which add to its character. Named after the leaf of the Kawakawa. It is the main type used for jewellery purposes.
Base - Serpentinite
has amazing healing qualities; to replenish and restore energy in the body, it also creates a protective and energetic field around us. Serpentinite can be a porous stone; in some cases, it will absorb the oils from your skin and deepen the colour of your stone. Each piece of Serpentinite has inclusions of many minerals that make a stunning piece of Artwork. Two or more Serpentine minerals can form a Serpentinite Rock and many other sub varieties of this stunner. This is regarded as one of the three stones that make up the Pounamu family.
Hand Carved by Glen Surgenor
Koruru - 156mm wide 90mm high x 5mm thick
Base - 66mm wide x approx 40mm deep x 146mm high
Total height 192mm
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.
