Description
Taonga or taoka (in South Island Māori) is a Māori-language word that refers to a treasured possession in Māori culture, or Precious Gift. We were traveling and I was wearing a similar piece that I had made. A gentleman that I had a brief acquaintance with asked if I had gotten this in New Zealand. He has some Maori blood and felt that the piece resembled a Toanga and explained what that meant to him. Hence the collection was born.
This Toanga is Turkish Jade, purple/lavender color. It measures approximately 45mm Long x 13mm wide x 3mm thick. It hangs on a 20″ braided leather cord with a hand crafted sterling silver closure.
I do most of my own lapidary work, sourcing my stones as close to the miner as possible. I create all the sterling silver settings from flat metal or wire.
Hand-crafted art/jewelry are one-of-a-kind pieces and generally are not duplicated exactly. Stones vary, measurements vary. I can collaborate with you if you would like to have a piece made for you or for someone else. Sterling silver may be polished with any number of good silver cleaner/polish products. Natural stones are fragile and may break if dropped, heated directly, stepped on, etc. Care should be taken.
