Posted 9 years ago
Peasejean55
(415 items)
I like unusual things and this really caught my eye, while I was watching another item on EBay I just happened to see this, I'm quite a impulsive person, I liked it, and manage to buy it. This and the brooch are what I bought yesterday, they are going to the UK, I don't know when I'll be travelling there, so I hope you don't mind the sellers photos.
I did some research before I bought it, it is a Maori Hei-tiki Nephrite pendant. The Maori highly value these personal ornaments. In some Maori origin beliefs Tiki was the first man having been created by the God Tane, and carvings of human figures in any material whether Whalebone, stone, wood or Nephrite may be called Tiki.
The Hei-Tiki are worn by men or women usually hanging from the neck either vertically or sometimes horizontally. Hei-Tiki are family heirlooms and have their own personal names. Many Hei-Tiki are remembered in tribal songs and oral histories, their mana or prestige deriving from close contact with those great ancestors who had worn it in the pass.
With the introduction of metal tools during the 19th century Nephrite adze soon became obsolete, but the Jade retained a value among both Maori and Europeans, who were eager to obtain Hei-Tiki as a beautiful curiosity. To meet the demand Nephrite adze were converted to Hei-Tiki, such as this one, they betray their origin as a adzes by the remains of a beveled cutting edge across the bottom and the overall adzes shaped line
Many thanks for looking.
May this little god bring you luck :-)
What happened with the Molly's post? She can be very rude...
Thank you Kyra, it's much appreciated :-)
Hi Jean, good score, what are the dimensions? Did you see my message on the Elsie Reeve opal bracelet with my email address and saying my jeweller thinks he can do your bracelet?
Hi Paul, it's approx 3 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide, I think it's quite small, others that I have looked at have been larger. I've been researching Hei-Tiki, I haven't come across them before, very interesting histories a lot of them have been pass down through the generations. I see you have one on your profile photo.
Hi Jean, three inches is a nice size for a greenstone tiki. Yours looks like a C20th one, made for the local market, they're very popular in New Zelaand.
Hi Paul, I was looking at some of the prices they go for, wow. Is this pendant in your opinion Nephrite, and the carving has it been done by hand, sorry to ask you another question, you say this is for the local market, so as a rule New Zealand doesn't export them, I know some countries say for instance Thailand do not allow you to take Buddhas out of the country, well that was certainly the rule when I lived there, but of course people did.
Yes, no doubt it is nephrite jade, we call it greenstone here. It will be machine made and hand finished, guessing from the look of gold loop at the top that it might be from the 1960's. Hard to buy one this size today for under $500 and they sell for a lot more than that in the upmarket tourist shops.
Well that's good to know, but this ones going to be treasured, I'm a magpie I can't part with things. Also it's such a interesting pendant, remembering I come from Europe and have never seen anything like this before. Thanks very much for your help Paul.
Hi valentino thanks for you comment, we shall have to wait and see.:-)
Many thanks
kyra
mikelv
vetraio
racer
Budek
valentino
Moonstonelover
SEAN
Many thanks
Roycroftbooksfromme
ho2cultcha
aghcollect
Many thanks
SEAN
kpgreg73
I've just received this Hei Tiki today, so added new photos.
Many thanks
Alan
Roycroftbookdfromme
Efesgirl
Hello Peasejean55,
I found a Hei Tiki in my mother's things, which is the exact same as yours and it is the only one I can find that has that type of carving - more etched than rounded. Did you ever find out what age yours is, one of the gentlemen who answered you seemed to think 20th Century - I thought it might be about 1960-70 - what do you think?
Hope you are safe in these dreadful times.
Kind regards
Angelique
i had one around my neck as a kid paua shell new zealand for eyes and hard wood carving of main body
fabilus memorys thank you jean
all the very best malkey the omega man 1412
11 th april 2020 year