A striking Toki pendant carved from deep green Tangiwai, displaying rich dark tones with soft natural movement through the stone. The surface reveals subtle cloudy patterning and depth, giving the piece a strong yet refined character. Cut in the traditional adze form, this carving has a clean, elegant silhouette that lets the beauty of the stone speak for itself. The warm binding detail at the top adds contrast and craftsmanship, completing a timeless taonga that feels both powerful and beautifully understated.
Toki/Adze
– The Toki had much meaning for the Māori, fashioned from stone or greenstone it was an essential tool for survival and day to day life for the Māori. That is the reason Māori attribute the spiritual meaning of strength and power to the Toki. This symbol represents Mana, determination, control, strength, focus and honour.
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.
Hand carved by Marshall Johnson
Size 82mm long x 33mm wide x 7mm 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.
