Hand carved from Pīpīwharauroa Inanga Pounamu, this Rei Niho carries soft grey-green tones with warm shimmering patterns flowing through the stone. The traditional lashing holes and clean shaping honour the old forms, giving this piece a grounded sense of connection. Finished with a smooth polish which enhances the natural features and lines of the piece.
Rei Niho(Eye Tooth) carved from pounamu, maintains the beauty of the traditional form, symbolising the intimate connection between Maori and Tohorā. The mark of a high Chief was one who wore the rei niho (whale tooth pendant), as the teeth of the sperm whale (Paraoa) were highly prized because of their rarity. With actual whale teeth being such a rarity, it became common to fashion the tooth form from other materials such as this example created from Pounamu.
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.
Inanga- Pounamu takes its name from a freshwater fish native to New Zealand. It is pale and often transparent, like the young of the Inanga fish. It is pearly white to grey green in colour, and ranges from translucent to quite opaque. It can change colour over time, developing a light olive tint as it ages and oxidises - Highly prized by the Māori and the desired material for making Mere and Patu.
Carved by Aaron Tabak
Size 87mm Long x 48mm 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.
