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Picture for category Te Takapū - National Stone & Bone Carving School

Te Takapū - National Stone & Bone Carving School

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At Te Takapū, students learn the revered tradition of carving pounamu (Nephrite-Jade/Greenstone), bone and stone.

The school opened on 5 October 2009, expanding on NZMACI’s commitment to maintaining, developing and promoting the arts, crafts and culture of iwi Māori (Māori tribes) as mandated by the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act (1963) (History).

The school was first led by Lewis Gardiner who is a well-regarded pounamu artist of his generation.

Stacy Gordine, a renowned artist from the East Coast of New Zealand – and uri of Hone Te Kauru and Pine Taiapa – now leads the programme and is shaping the direction of the wānanga into the future.

Would you like something custom made especially for you?  Commission a piece here

3 Items in Grid 4 Items in Grid List

Hei Tiki - 6173KH

Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 110mm x 71mm x 23mm
$3,200.00

Hei Tiki - 6717PD

Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.

Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)

Measurements: 88mm x 58mm
$2,600.00

Patu Onewa - 6721PD

Patu (meaning to strike or hit) were typically fashioned from native hardwood, whalebone or stone, including our highly valued pounamu (greenstone). Patu were often sharp at their forward edge and were used with thrusting, jabbing and swinging blows.

Māori weapons are notable for their fine sculptural form and were designed for close hand-to-hand combat. No other stone-age war implements surpassed them in deadly effectiveness.

Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)

Measurements: 380mm x 100mm
$2,190.00

Wheku - 6209MA

In Māori carving there are three predominant designs for heads: the 'wheku' with its long eyes; the 'koruru' with its round eyes; and, the 'ruru', which also has round eyes but with a point at the top.
The different designs were used by carvers to illustrate the character of the subject they were carving. The long eyes of the wheku were often used to depict a squint or frown.

Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)

Measurements: 45mm x 40mm x 15mm
$750.00

Toki - 5523IA

The toki pendent is based on the form of the carving chisel used in whakairo (Māori carving).

Material: Onewa (NZ Greywacke)

Measurements: 53mm x 11mm x 7mm
$320.00

Māhē - 4501HW

Māhē are sinker stones used to weigh down fishing nets.

Material: Otaua (Greywacke)

Measurements: 50mm x 37mm x 35mm
$490.00

Toki Earrings - 5699RH

Toki earrings (or drop earrings) are designed to suspend from the bottom of the earlobes. The length varies from a centimetre or two, all the way to brushing the wearer's shoulders.

Material: Parāoa (Whalebone)

Measurements: 67mm x 13mm x 3mm
$490.00

Toki Earrings - 5700RH

Toki earrings (or drop earrings) are designed to suspend from the bottom of the earlobes. The length varies from a centimetre or two, all the way to brushing the wearer's shoulders.

Material: Parāoa (Whalebone)

Measurements: 75mm x 15mm x 3mm
$490.00

Rei Niho - 3789IA

The mark of a high Chief was one who wore the hei niho (whale tooth pendant), as the teeth of the sperm whale were highly prized because of their rarity. Usually these pendants had simply etched out eyes to form a head at one end. With actual whale teeth being such a rarity, it became common to fashion the tooth form from other materials.

Material: Koiwi (Beef Bone)

Measurements: 67mm x 40mm
$250.00

Rei Niho - 5266IA

The mark of a high Chief was one who wore the hei niho (whale tooth pendant), as the teeth of the sperm whale were highly prized because of their rarity. Usually these pendants had simply etched out eyes to form a head at one end. With actual whale teeth being such a rarity, it became common to fashion the tooth form from other materials.

Material: Koiwi (Beef Bone)

Measurements: 60mm x 33mm x 4mm
$220.00

Toki Earrings - 5698RH

Toki earrings (or drop earrings) are designed to suspend from the bottom of the earlobes. The length varies from a centimetre or two, all the way to brushing the wearer's shoulders.

Material: Parāoa (Whalebone)

Measurements: 66mm x 14mm x 4mm
$490.00

Toki Earrings - 6826RH

Toki earrings (or drop earrings) are designed to suspend from the bottom of the earlobes. The length varies from a centimetre or two, all the way to brushing the wearer's shoulders.

Material: Parāoa (Whalebone)

Measurements: 70mm x 9mm x 5mm
$490.00