This incredible Kouma (Breastplate) is handcrafted from a stunning piece of Pipiwharauroa Inanga Pounamu with fantastic chatoyant patterns through it, with a Koru crafted from Kauri Copal surrounded by a stunning ring of Pakohe. This is such a special piece, a worthy taonga.
Kouma/Breastplate - signifies strength and protection in battle. Today they still hold this symbolism but more as a representative scale.
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.
Kauri Resin Copal- The guardian of the tree, liquid gold, A word that implies mysterious landscapes and the hopes and dreams of generations, as well as encompassing the rare and beautiful. Kauri gum is a resin produced by New Zealand’s giant kauri trees. Māori called kauri gum kāpia, they chewed it like chewing gum and mixed the soot from burnt gum with oil or fat and used it in moko (facial tattoos). Kauri Gum is said to impart a very peaceful yet powerful energy. It helps one to stand in their own power. Ethically sourced from the Coromandel.
Pakohe
– Also known as Argillite, and to geologists as metamorphosed indurated mudstone, argillite is particularly associated with the Nelson-Marlborough region in New Zealand. It is found on Rangitoto (D'Urville Island), along the Whangamoa mineral belt, and in the upper reaches of the Maitai, Wairoa and Motueka Rivers. Māori valued Argillite’s strength, hardness and ability to hold a sharpened edge – which made it ideal for making tools (especially Adzes).
Care Instructions - Kauri Gum
What you have here is the fossilised resin of the kauri tree, a rare piece of history from kauri trees long gone. It's an amber not a stone so, keep it free from solvents like perfume and make up, No extreme heat, e.g. dash of car any time of year. Not intended for everyday use, and not worn during sports. It can be rejuvenated using a little olive oil in case of fading. A soft cloth is to be used as a buffer in a sideways motion (not circular) to maintain the gum's original shine. Treat your piece as a precious gem and it will last forever.
Carved by Conrad Henderson
Size 55mm Long x 99mm Wide
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.
