WHEKU TIKI
In stock
A wonderful tiki with wheku head - beautifully carved with lots of detail, this is a very detailed carving and is visually, very strong.
We have carved these in both deer antler and cow bone, both materials with a tremendous natural character making each piece individual and original.
View the photos, and the video, to appreciate the craftsmanship evident in this carving. Note the variation in the antler between the front and the back - antler is a more porous material than the bone and gives the pendant a beautiful organic look and feel.
The tiki is a well recognised symbol in Maori culture, but also has historical roots in Hawaiian and wider Polynesian cultures. It is believed to symbolise fertility, and was often worn by women as a fertilising symbol. Its form is believed to represent a human embryo, often carved with the hands placed on the loins in what is believed to be a direct reference to fertility.
Wheku, meaning 'carved face', generally depicts the face of an ancestor.
The Wheku is often found at the apex of the gable on a Wharenui, the Maori meeting house, and symbolises an important ancestor after whom the house was named. Today the carved wheku is increasingly seen in other places like pendants and tattoos.
These pendants were traditionally highly valued and wearers were seen to possess clarity of thought, loyalty, great inner knowledge and strength of character.
We have these in both bone and deer antler, please use the drop down box to make your selection. Cords are length adjustable.
These will be shipped to you with Express Courier, which is included in the price.
Material: Bone or Deer Antler; Pāua Shell Eyes
Cord Colour: Paradise Blue and Kalahari Brown
Cord Length: Adjustable
Size: 60mm (2.4") long; 35mm (1.4") wide
