A stunning Rei Niho (Whales tooth) handcrafted from a stunning piece of Nelson Blue Te Tau Ihu Inanga Pounamu. It features an incredible pastel blue colour palette so unique to Nelson Region Pounamu and patterns of Pīpīwharauroa, highlighted by the wonderful high polish finish.
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.
Te Tau Ihu 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.
Pīpīwharauroa- This is a rare and unique type of stone usually found in the Inanga, Tangiwai and dark Kawakawa 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 Aaron Tarbeck
Size 83mm long x 40mm wide x 10mm 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.
