If you're looking for a reason to buy something meaningful, and haven't quite made your mind up yet, read our top 10 reasons to gift. From supporting local artists, to the deep meaning associated to the stone.
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Hand carved
Smooth lines, soft finishes, no scratches and no cuts.
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The Niho is a symbol of guardianship, trust and protection.
The Niho (Tooth) design depicts the ocean’s most powerful creatures.In Māori culture, whales were considered gifts of the ocean and believed to be treasures cast onto the beach by Tangaroa (god of the sea). Sharks also play a role in Māori mythology and are symbolic of guardianship, trust and protection.
James Pirika
The artist behind this creationJames Pirika is an emerging New Zealand pounamu carver who has learned his craft in our Rotorua studio working alongside leading artists such as Tamaora Walker and John Sheehan Jnr. His designs are inspired by his culture and heritage, and he's known for carving bold, powerful pieces. James is constantly humbled to learn a significant part of his culture and heritage through carving jade. Maori people didn’t have a written language, they would instead utilise carvings to remind themselves of their past, learning and passing their stories and heritage onto future generations. James is most passionate when it comes to the traditional meanings behind the designs and the stone, strongly believing that it brings people together globally. It is found around the world and so many cultures have seen it as an important element in their culture and identity.
A talisman connected to Māori mythology, the Niho symbolises strength, leadership and resilience, and is commonly associated with two animals - the whale and the shark.
Niho (Tooth)
Traditionally, whale teeth are important cultural objects throughout the Pacific. When a whale washed up onto the shores, Māori would use its meat as food, the blubber as preserving oil, and the bones and teeth were carved into adornments and weaponry. Mako (shark tooth adornments) were also highly esteemed and treasured by Māori and often worn from the ear. Today, we carve whale and shark necklaces from beautiful pieces of greenstone to continue with tradition and connect people with their history, heritage and land.