An incredible piece of craftmanship, this knife is styled after a Bowie Knife. The blade is handcrafted from a gorgeous piece of South Westland Totoweka Pounamu, and the handle is blended and sculpted from Tangiwai and Raukaraka Pounamu. The knife being beautifully displayed, rests on Totoweka Pounamu supports set into a wonderful piece of water worn Marsden Flower Pounamu. A stunning sculpture that will be a loved taonga.
Knife Handle- Tangiwai
is the most ancient form of pounamu. It is bowenite rock, which is different in composition to the more common nephrite. 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.
Raukaraka- Genuine West Coast Greenstone from the Taramakau River Area. This is the term used by the Māori of the Cook Strait region of the Kawakawa variety that is streaked with a shade of olive green and has yellow and orange hues that blend into the greens. This stone shares its name with the New Zealand native Karaka tree.
Knife Blade
and supports - Totoweka- This stone is usually like the mid green Kawakawa variety but differs in that the spotting or streaks are red like blood. It is rare to find Totoweka in the Westland jade fields, but when a piece is discovered, it is highly cherished and sometimes becomes the show piece of the fossicker’s collection. Large deposits of Totoweka occur in the South Westland area. The name comes from toto (blood), weka (Native bush hen) or weka blood. The red iron oxide inclusions were likened to the colour of blood of the Weka. Sourced in South Westland.
Base -
Marsden Flower
Pounamu from the Marsden, West Coast area. The centre of this stone is a highly translucent, light-ish green shade, free from dark spots and other flaws. One of the rarest varieties, held in high esteem by the Māori. The most prized Greenstone in New Zealand is Flower Jade, Greenstone with pale green or ochre clouds of colour. This distinctive patterning and colouring come from the outside rim or 'rind' of the greenstone boulders or stones where the surface has oxidised.
Carved by Kaleb Schad
Knife Handle - Size 66mm wide x 128mm long x 22mm thick
Knife Blade – Size 44mm wide x 148mm long x 5.6mm thick
Base - Size 128mm long x 426mm wide x 114mm high approx, 4Kg
Total Height – 150mm approx.
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.
