Hei Toki Pikorua Matau Inanga - Greenstone Twist Fishhook Adze Pendant
$690.00
With expertise and power the carver wields the adze. Relied on for survival in ancient times, traditional tools are imbued with significance and meaning. The toki epitomises the artistry and skill of the craftsman, protector and provider. Of great mana (prestige), to wield the toki is to wield strength.
The treasures and vital sustenance of Tangaroa, kaitiaki (protector) of the ocean, required our tūpuna (ancestors) to be expert mariners. The lines and curves of the matau (fishhook) not only represent abundance and prosperity but also safe passage across life's journeys, echoing the voyages undertaken by those who first explored and settled the vast Pacific.
The pikorua (twist) embodies the universal principle of duality and balance. Its intertwined form symbolizes the interconnectedness of opposing forces: light and darkness, masculine and feminine, challenge and progress. The continuous, unbroken twist of the pikorua represents this perpetual movement and the eternal interplay of these forces.
This hei toki was carved with a matau and pikorua form by Samuel Potter from kawakawa pounamu sourced from Durville Island of Te Wai Pounamu, Aotearoa. It measures 78mm by 35mm, has a glossy finish, and is bound with an adjustable hand-braided cord.
