Moko Pounamu Toki Genuine Whale Bone Carving - Te Rakihuitahi

A beautiful Toki carved from Whale Bone. This carving has a Paua Shell inset with engraving - a wonderful taonga.

Toki(Adze) – The Toki had much meaning for the Maori, fashioned from stone or greenstone it was an essential tool for survival and day to day life for the Maori. That is the reason Maori attribute the spiritual meaning of strength and power to the Toki. This symbol resembles determination, control, strength, focus and honour.

Whale Bone has always been a special medium for Māori artists, Whales are considered a taonga species, and represent abundance, richness and were regarded as chiefly animals. Some tribes see whales as the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean and stranding’s are seen as gifts from Tangaroa and carving them is a way of honouring that gift. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Māori as both supernatural beings and as harbingers of personal change and spiritual growth.

Paua Shell – Abalone, our Paua shell is rich and deep in iridescent colours unique to New Zealand. Found all around the rocky shoreline coast but grows best in southern waters. Paua shell has been traditionally used by Maori to illuminate the eyes & features of carvings and artwork. While Paua sits within the abalone family, which is found in other parts of the world, namely, South America, Australia, Western North America, and Japan, our Paua's hidden, bright multi-coloured interior shell is only found in New Zealand.

Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from the Chatham Islands.

Carved by Malcolm Hooper

Size 65mm long x 22mm wide

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.