Te Whai Repo, (Sting Ray) glides out of a single piece of Nelson kahurangi pounamu, one of the most prized forms of New Zealand greenstone for its depth and translucency.
Marshall Johnston has carved it with remarkable restraint. The body swells into a smooth, dark green dome, while the wing tips lift and curl as if the ray is turning in the current. A long tail sweeps back over its form. Where the stone thins at the edges, light passes through and the kahurangi glows from deep forest green to bright, luminous green, with natural black inclusions that make this piece entirely its own.
This is a contemporary sculpture, not a pendant. It is made to be placed, admired and lived with. It rests on its own hand-turned, swamp kauri timber base, place this on a desk, a shelf, mantel, wherever it will catch the light.
Deane Morton of Moko Pounamu considers Te Whai Repo to be one of Marshall’s finest work to date. Signed by the artist, it is a one of a kind piece, and there will never be another.
Features
Hand-carved from a single piece of Nelson kahurangi pounamu
Contemporary sculptural form with lifted wings, eyes and a sweeping tail
Translucent edges that glow when the light catches them
Signed with the carver’s mark on the underside
Supplied with a timber display base
One of a kind
Kahurangi is the rarest variety of pounamu. It is highly translucent and often comes in vivid shades of green. Small, feather-like markings in the stone can give a cloud effect – although to be classed as Kahurangi, this effect must not reduce the stone’s clarity. The word Kahurangi also indicates nobility and refers to precious jewels and held in high esteem by Māori.
Hand Carved by Marshall Johnston
Size 105mm long x 70mm wide 15mm 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.
