This is an incredible handcrafted half hidden Koruru from an exceptional piece of Kokopu Pounamu. The red wax eye is striking against the pale colour, and patterns in this stone are fantastic and with face emerging from inside the Pounamu, set into a beautiful Rimu wood base and carved by a master carver makes this a truly unique taonga.
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.
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.
Base - Rimu
is a dense native timber of NZ. It is deep reddish brown in colour and is strong and durable. A stunning timber - one of the most beautiful in the world with a fine textured grain.
Hand Carved by Des Hetherington
Sculpture 197mm long x 175mm wide x 53mm thick approx
Base Size: 242mm dia x 47mm thick
Total height 110mm approx
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.
