An awesome handcrafted Hei Tiki from an incredible rare piece of A Pīpīwharauroa Inanga Auhunga Pounamu, showcasing the light pastel colours and chatoyancy of this amazing Pounamu, with red wax eyes and nipples highlighting the attention to detail that makes this carver stand out. A fantastic carving to be worn with honour and pride.
Tiki
- According to legend was the first man on Earth who originated from the stars. The first mortal person who created the first woman after his image. The exact meaning of the Tiki is disputed. There are several opinions but the most accepted are that the Tiki stands for fertility. Traditionally regarded as a good luck charm meant to keep evil spirits away.
Auhunga- Genuine West Coast Greenstone from the Arahura River area, West Coast. Auhunga Pounamu is a pale opaque green colour. Resembling the Southern New Zealand mountains, its --name translates to frosty, given as the intermediate of Inanga and Kawakawa.
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 Des Hetherington
Size 106mm long x 78mm wide x 9mm 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.
