Tangiwai toki of worlds within

I can’t decide if looking into this stunning tangiwai toki is like looking up through a clear blue sea or into a cloud filled sky.  Either way, you are actually looking IN to this toki. Looking back into millions of years of time. I am in love with this piece!

And you must have a scroll through the photos so you can see how this taonga transforms with just a little light behind it. See that second image that is vibrant blue? We just used our phone torch to light this taonga up. Isn’t it incredible? We have never seen a taonga that lights up quite like this one. What even is that colour?

It was very difficult to capture this taonga on camera as the light just wanted to bounce back at me no matter what angle I tried.  Tim left the stringing very simple on this taonga so that you don’t lose any of the beauty of the stone.  I can guarantee you will spend many content hours finding new worlds in this taonga.

The Toki was one of the most important tools for Māori and were used for any number of everyday jobs such as cutting down trees, carving out waka, digging ground, Moa hunting and food preparations.

Because the toki had to be strong to endure the cutting and scraping motions of its use it became a symbol of strength(particularly in times of adversity), courage and fortitude.

Toki were also worn by elders as a symbol of power, wisdom and authority.

This stone, Kōkōtangiwai(often known as just Tangiwai) is the tears Ranginui cried when he was eternally separated from his wahine, Papatūānuku. As his tears fell on to Papatūānuku they solidified into the most beautiful, transluscent pounamu called Kōkōtangiwai. 

Tangi is to cry, wai is water.  Kōkōtangwai is a deep sorrow that is never completely healed.  I think most of us carry the memories of a lost loved one who sits deep in our hearts, a sweet sorrow.

Tangiwai is found only in Aotearoa and dwells in the areas of highest rainfall in Te Wai Pounamu. Tangiwai is the most ancient type of pounamu and is in fact a Bowenite rock, with a different composition to the more common Nephrite pounamu you will find available. 

• One of a kind, taonga by Timoti
• Tangiwai Pounamu from Piopiotahi
• 105mm long x 48mm wide

💚Now every taonga you purchase helps us to carve a taonga for EVERY tamariki in care in Aotearoa. You can read more about our Tū Māia project here. Ngā mihi mahana for your support of this kaupapa!💚