Post #329595 by Tamapoutini on Sat, Sep 1, 2007 5:34 PM

Awesome carving Wplugger - someone will be very please to draw your name!

Paipo: great minds think alike... :o

Here is my entry: based on an old Matau from my family lines but with a spin of its own. Carved in Wyoming nephrite/jade.

Anything special about this you might ask? Of course! For the mouth detail Ive revisited an old technique - very old; hundreds of years old. Neolithic even..

Made using 'scarfing' tools - basically cutting/abrading 'blades' made from greywacke stone. These are carefully worked back and forth, lubricated by a little water.. Not the quickest technique in the world and although cheap, I wont be swapping my diamond tools any time soon - but unless you have a time-machine this is probably the closest that most of us will get to handling/owning an 'authentic' neolithic Taonga..

I hope the drawn swapper likes it! I will finish the bindings to whatever length suits.

Tama :)