A beautiful Matau (Hook) carved from Tangiwai Pounamu. This ancient Greenstone is the foundation from which artist Kaleb Schad has handcrafted a stunning Matau sculpture which shows the gorgeous mottled green tones common to this type of stone. It is finished with a binding and cord from the top of the piece, which ends in a feather that has been connected to the cord with whipping and sealed in red wax.
Matau/Fishhook- Originally Māori have been fishermen. Their main food source was the sea, so a fishhook of high quality was an unbelievably valuable item to own. The hook became a symbol of prosperity, abundance, good health, power, authority and respect for the sea and its life in it. They also provide good luck and safety while traveling across water.
Sculpture - 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.
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 Kaleb Schad
Sculpture 220mm high x 99mm wide x (approx) 12mm thick
Base 130mm deep x 250mm wide x 42mm 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.
