A fantastic Toki and carved from ethically sourced Whale bone from the Chatham Islands. This carving has kowhaiwhai pattern through the middle and makes this a very special taonga that will be passed through many generations and treasured by those who have the honour of being its caretaker.
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.
Kowhaiwhai- The Kōwhaiwhai is a traditional Māori pattern that is used in whakairo (carving) and art, as well as being decorative, Kowhaiwhai patterns also help to tell a story. Kowhaiwhai in whare tipuna (meeting houses) are specially designed for the iwi (tribe) the house belongs to. It tells stories about their history. Kowhaiwhai are painted on the rafters or the tahuhu (ridgepole) of the house stretching the length of the building. The Kowhaiwhai painted on the ridgepole represents the whakapapa (genealogy) of the iwi (tribe). Nature is often the inspiration for these beautiful and stunning patterns.
Whale Bone
has always been a special medium for Māori artists, Whales are considered a taonga species, and represent abundance, richness and were regarded as chiefly animals. Some tribes see whales as the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean and stranding’s are seen as gifts from Tangaroa and carving them is a way of honouring that gift. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Māori as both supernatural beings and as harbingers of personal change and spiritual growth.
Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from the Chatham Islands.
Carved by Alex Sands
Size 53mm long x 20mm 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.
