A gorgeous Whao Toki chisel handcrafted from a fabulous piece of Hapopo Pounamu. The colour and patterns in this piece are simply amazing. An incredible decorative chisel hand carved all through the handle and set with New Zealand Paua showcasing the true skill of the carver. We have lashed the top of this wonderful Whao in black waxed cord and will be a wonderful display piece and will be a treasured taonga for your whanau.
This is decorative only, the wooden handle is not strong enough to be used.
Traditional Māori carving, known as whakairo, is a deeply sacred and storytelling art form in Aotearoa. Passed down through generations by master carvers (tohunga whakairo), it relies on three primary materials to preserve tribal history, genealogy (whakapapa), and connections to the spiritual world:
Wood (Whakairo Rākau): Carved into large structures like waka (war canoes), pātaka (storehouses), and whare (communal meeting houses). Traditionally uses native timbers like totara and kauri, which represent Tāne Mahuta (god of the forest).
Bone (Whakairo Kōiwi): Traditionally shaped from whalebone and ivory, and today carved from beef bone. Used to craft weapons, fish hooks, and personal adornments.
Greenstone (Pounamu): Highly prized jade from the South Island. Cut into sacred adornments like ear pendants, breast pendants, and hei tiki as symbols of high status and prestige.
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.
Hapopo- Genuine West Coast Greenstone. It's colour ranges from medium green to a dark forest green with a unique mottled texture. The name originating from Kā Umu o Hapopo (Big Bay) which is in Poutini ki te toka (South Westland).
Hand Carved by Moko Workshops
Size Sculpture - 182mm tall x 23mm wide x 18mm 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.
