Post #510276 by Tamapoutini on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 8:43 PM

ok, you asked for it. Knocked off early for the day in order to post monthly update (perhaps bi-monthly?). Thanks to all for staying interested! You know who you are: Heath, Lake, LLT, Grog, Laojia, G, Eric, Mango, Rainhawk, BenZ, BigT and ccnutzo!

Grog: I believe Paip' is currently squatting in his new hometown but isnt far from moving into a new place. Rumour has it that the new workshop is plenty large enough for his talent, and even has room left over for a few tools and tiki-mugs.. :lol:

Ive got several projects going on around our property so am only carving part-time for the foreseeable future. Im also 95% complete on building a new diamond-bladed dropsaw for cutting large stones, will flick pics in 'Stone Q&A' sometime soon.

Anyhoo, heres 2010's offerings so far..

These first few were purchased by a local gallery (hence only one snapshot each):

This first is based on a very early Maori artifact housed in the Te Papa Tongarewa collection. The original has been broken in half and only the lower portion remains, so I had to reconstruct how I thought it might have looked. A fusion of club, hook and 'kapeu' forms.

Small 'trad':

Small but not-so-trad:

Small 'Pekapeka', based on neplithic examples:

Small tooth form with notched detail (added with sharpened stone 'rasps'):

Another trad. heiTiki, this one in Marsden 'flower' jade, a very rare and sought after variety, although not the best example of it:

And another, in a dark olive pounamu from the legendary Arahura River. Reminds me very much of some Wyoming jade Ive worked:

'Alien-eyed Pekapeka', a modern twist on another ancient Maori form:

And staying with the alien theme; this piece (believe it or not) is actually based on another very old Maori amulet, commonly made from whale teeth (known in NZ as 'rei-paraoa' and very similar to certain Hawaiian and Easter Island pieces). The alien look to the face wasnt intentional.. spooky! :o

Stylised 'beak' at bottom:

"Toa-Pounamu" (greenstone Warrior)":

And finally, "Rei-Pounamu"; another based on early carved whaletooth amulets (seems to be a recurring theme this time?), this one a lot more traditionally styled:

Thanks again my Tiki-friends, I hope you enjoy them!

:)