Monday, April 12, 2010

Large Nguru




This nguru is unfinished at the moment, its made out of akeake ( Dodonea viscosa) an extremely hard wood which is very prone to cracking, its got a beautiful deep tone to it and sounds best played by the nose. The figures are Kurangaituku and Hatupatu with pakati around the large opening.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Tewhatewha











This is a tewhatewha made of white kanuka.

Wakahuia











This is a wakahuia I carved years ago, its made out of an old totara post. The figures on the top are Tane Mahuta and Hinetiitama, and the underside represents the underworld rarohenga inwhich Hinetiitama fled and the two figures are the guardians. The carving patterns are ponahi and represent the underworld, and its been burnt to give a nice matt black finish.

Nguru (Hine Raukatauri & Hine Pu Te Hue)










This Nguru is made from Kanuka it is 113mm by 50mm with a bone inlay the 2 figures are the two daughters of musical instruments Hine Raukatauri (Goddess of flute music)and Hine Pu te Hue (Goddess of the Gourds) . The surface whakairo is a mix of Pitau,and unahi (or timutimu), This taonga puoro has been oiled and then burnt to stain. The end wenewene (fingerhole) is placed in the nostril and played , it is also played at the wide opening either front or side blown.

Ivory Ring







I made this last year for Hanna's birthday, its made from a piece of spermwhales tooth. The flowers are Pimelea prostrata (NZ Daphne), it was very fiddly work whoch is probably why my eyesite is getting worse!






Kiaora

This is a nguru I made years ago out of manuka wood the surface carvings are pitau, and I've added a paua shell inlay. Initially it could only be played with the mouth but I recently modified it so it can now be played with the nose.