Tama - update - Tiki Carving

T Tamapoutini Member Aotearoa (New Zealand) Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 1530	T Tamapoutini Posted posted on Mon, Dec 20, 2010 4:45 PM Kia ora All – long time no TC.. Sheesh, that’s 2010 then eh? Another chaotic 12months of growing veges, developing property, guiding children and grinding stone. Im sure other things have happened too but the year is still a blur and that’s all I can think of just now. Big thanks to all who keep a patient eye out for my work. I guess the biggest personal Tiki-News for this year has been the building of a new studio-workshop in the back yard, also enabling the kids to finally have a bedroom each (when we eventually get around to converting old workshop/garage into master bedroom – first things first..) The new space sports purpose-placed drains/sockets/windows/lighting etc and is a massive improvement in comfort. The physical set-up remains much the same, with some minor tweaking and improved facilities for sawbenches (yay!) "Hot-Pop Green": Carvings from the last 6-8 months, in loosely chronological order but starting with a couple of random strays: 'Niho-Pounamu': Contemporary Manaia: Little Trad (as mentioned below, I produced a lot more "trad" heiTikis this year but for the sake of interest will keep them to a minimum here). This little piece is from exceptional stone that I unearthed by chance in a friends garden: Figures with fingers in mouth or throat are generally regarded as pertaining to/aiding oratory skill, much prized in Polynesian culture. Very traditional 'Manaia' design fashioned from a small river pebble; all cuts made with neolithic techniques in mind to give a more authentic 'artifact' look: Side-hanging type heiTiki: And another; the biggest difference (for me at least) was that this one faces the opposite way than I usually make them: HeiMatau (stylised fishhook), very similar to one I wear myself & based on a design particular to my hapu/sub-tribe, Kati Mamoe: HeiToki (adzeblade pendant): HeiTiki "artifact" fashioned from a pebble of 'tangiwai' pounamu (softer Bowenite as opposed to nephrite jade)- reeeaaally wish I kept this guy for myself, bugger! Notched 'tooth' pendant, another design notably attributed to my sub-tribe, although the originals were most often made from shell or whaletooth/bone: Contemporary 'breastplate' pendant - a modern effort at carving something "like they would have made if they'd thought of it"..(?) Another trad, Ill keep throwing them in: er, tiki-flower..? HeiTekoteko - not traditional in pounamu or worn as adornment, adapted from larger woodcarvings: Trad: Oh yeah - again big thanks to member RikiTikiTavi, I now regularly use your suggestion for sanding/polishing eyesockets. I had a photo of various wooden 'socket-routers' that Ive accumulated for different sized eyes but cant find it just now. Im using a couple of different grades of tumbling grit as the abrasive. Great tip man, thanks!: And on another piece, here before sanding the rest of carving in order to better see results: Manaia (as above), super-sexy stone!: HeiPoria (bird leg-ring)- originally an implement for tethering live decoy parrots to assist in hunting: 'HeiTi'i' - a contemporary invented design with influence from Tahitian/Austral figure carvings. This piece made from Mayor Island obsidian (volcanic glass), a source utilised and traded extensively by pre-contact Maori for use as flesh-knives/fibre srapers etc: Trad-ish heiTiki; the difference here is that I didnt pierce arm/legholes through in order to show off the attractive natural outer stone surface on rear. If you can imagine this piece was face-down staring into the depths of the 'mother-stone' while the back was exposed to the elements for however many 100's or 1000's of years: HeiToko - a contemporary design, merely an asymmetrical 'notched stick' with vague reference to the orators talking-stick or other Polynesian long-staff weapon: Contemporary 'reiNiho' breastplate pendant - another invented "what they might have done" type design, loosely based on early Maori whaletooth talismans and with other inspiration from cave painting detail: Upoko/head pendant: 'Pekapeka' - a modern-ish version of the traditional pekapeka design (native bat formed by two manaia). This is another design that allows much artistic licence, as evidenced by the widely differing examples from antiquity: Perhaps my favourite piece for 2010, a contemporary Tekoteko/Poupou pendant. The (female) figure is standing on a mouth/beak (symbolising ancestry) and has a stylised bloodflow between her legs (again symbolising progeny/geneology): And if you're still here Jen, an XXX-large contemporary fella, 'Toa-Pounamu' (jade warrior) - enjoy! :wink: : In truth this has been the toughest year Ive faced in business, the global economic thingy finally making a noticeable impact on local sales. Thankfully MrsT has picked up some part-time work and is able to take up the slack. Ive also noticed that people are less willing to buy the more ‘out there’ pieces during these times and so I have been backed into the bread’n’butter “trad” corner a little more than in previous years. Thankfully the traditional Maori ‘hei-Tiki’ still holds a little artistic room-to-move and manages to hold my interest even after however many hundreds have passed through my hands. I know I am still learning and can look back at tangible improvements this year so am not complaining – no plans to quit anytime soon and have a special affection for all you other Tiki-folk who are dedicated to making their living this way – yay us! Have a great Christmas/New Years everyone! :) :) :)

Kia ora All – long time no TC..

Sheesh, that’s 2010 then eh? Another chaotic 12months of growing veges, developing property, guiding children and grinding stone. Im sure other things have happened too but the year is still a blur and that’s all I can think of just now. Big thanks to all who keep a patient eye out for my work.

I guess the biggest personal Tiki-News for this year has been the building of a new studio-workshop in the back yard, also enabling the kids to finally have a bedroom each (when we eventually get around to converting old workshop/garage into master bedroom – first things first..) The new space sports purpose-placed drains/sockets/windows/lighting etc and is a massive improvement in comfort. The physical set-up remains much the same, with some minor tweaking and improved facilities for sawbenches (yay!)

"Hot-Pop Green":

Carvings from the last 6-8 months, in loosely chronological order but starting with a couple of random strays:

'Niho-Pounamu':

Contemporary Manaia:

Little Trad (as mentioned below, I produced a lot more "trad" heiTikis this year but for the sake of interest will keep them to a minimum here). This little piece is from exceptional stone that I unearthed by chance in a friends garden:

Figures with fingers in mouth or throat are generally regarded as pertaining to/aiding oratory skill, much prized in Polynesian culture.

Very traditional 'Manaia' design fashioned from a small river pebble; all cuts made with neolithic techniques in mind to give a more authentic 'artifact' look:

Side-hanging type heiTiki:

And another; the biggest difference (for me at least) was that this one faces the opposite way than I usually make them:

HeiMatau (stylised fishhook), very similar to one I wear myself & based on a design particular to my hapu/sub-tribe, Kati Mamoe:

HeiToki (adzeblade pendant):

HeiTiki "artifact" fashioned from a pebble of 'tangiwai' pounamu (softer Bowenite as opposed to nephrite jade)- reeeaaally wish I kept this guy for myself, bugger!

Notched 'tooth' pendant, another design notably attributed to my sub-tribe, although the originals were most often made from shell or whaletooth/bone:

Contemporary 'breastplate' pendant - a modern effort at carving something "like they would have made if they'd thought of it"..(?)

Another trad, Ill keep throwing them in:

er, tiki-flower..?

HeiTekoteko - not traditional in pounamu or worn as adornment, adapted from larger woodcarvings:

Trad:

Oh yeah - again big thanks to member RikiTikiTavi, I now regularly use your suggestion for sanding/polishing eyesockets. I had a photo of various wooden 'socket-routers' that Ive accumulated for different sized eyes but cant find it just now. Im using a couple of different grades of tumbling grit as the abrasive. Great tip man, thanks!:

And on another piece, here before sanding the rest of carving in order to better see results:

Manaia (as above), super-sexy stone!:

HeiPoria (bird leg-ring)- originally an implement for tethering live decoy parrots to assist in hunting:

'HeiTi'i' - a contemporary invented design with influence from Tahitian/Austral figure carvings. This piece made from Mayor Island obsidian (volcanic glass), a source utilised and traded extensively by pre-contact Maori for use as flesh-knives/fibre srapers etc:

Trad-ish heiTiki; the difference here is that I didnt pierce arm/legholes through in order to show off the attractive natural outer stone surface on rear. If you can imagine this piece was face-down staring into the depths of the 'mother-stone' while the back was exposed to the elements for however many 100's or 1000's of years:

HeiToko - a contemporary design, merely an asymmetrical 'notched stick' with vague reference to the orators talking-stick or other Polynesian long-staff weapon:

Contemporary 'reiNiho' breastplate pendant - another invented "what they might have done" type design, loosely based on early Maori whaletooth talismans and with other inspiration from cave painting detail:

Upoko/head pendant:

'Pekapeka' - a modern-ish version of the traditional pekapeka design (native bat formed by two manaia). This is another design that allows much artistic licence, as evidenced by the widely differing examples from antiquity:

Perhaps my favourite piece for 2010, a contemporary Tekoteko/Poupou pendant. The (female) figure is standing on a mouth/beak (symbolising ancestry) and has a stylised bloodflow between her legs (again symbolising progeny/geneology):

And if you're still here Jen, an XXX-large contemporary fella, 'Toa-Pounamu' (jade warrior) - enjoy! :wink: :

In truth this has been the toughest year Ive faced in business, the global economic thingy finally making a noticeable impact on local sales. Thankfully MrsT has picked up some part-time work and is able to take up the slack. Ive also noticed that people are less willing to buy the more ‘out there’ pieces during these times and so I have been backed into the bread’n’butter “trad” corner a little more than in previous years. Thankfully the traditional Maori ‘hei-Tiki’ still holds a little artistic room-to-move and manages to hold my interest even after however many hundreds have passed through my hands. I know I am still learning and can look back at tangible improvements this year so am not complaining – no plans to quit anytime soon and have a special affection for all you other Tiki-folk who are dedicated to making their living this way – yay us!

Have a great Christmas/New Years everyone! :) :) :)

Post #569594 by Tamapoutini on Mon, Dec 20, 2010 4:45 PM