Bonecarving Bonecarving

Bonecarving





Everyone who likes wearing jewellery will notice quiet quickly the bonecarvings if he travels to New Zealand. You can get them at nearly souvenir shop and they will have different shapes and prices.


fern Fish hook

The traditional designs of the Maori people show different shapes from nature e.g. the farnroll. Another very often used design is the fishhook. All of the traditional designs have their very special meaning. You can find modern designs as well.

The quality of the bonecarvings might be very different and you will mostly see it in the price you will have to pay. The cheap ones which start at 10 NZ$ are often only coarse and you can bet on a mass production. As soon as you want an individual and special design you will have to pay much more and soon will reach prices around 60NZ$ and more.


Workshops

A very interesting and surely individual way of getting a bonecarvings pendant is to make it on your own. In many places you can join in workshops that will last half a day or a whole day. I joined in a whole-day-workshop in Nelson for 40NZ$.


another favourite design

A selfmade bonecarving is the most personal souvenir you can bring from Aotearoa. This design no one else will wear it. Even if you and other participants decide to make the same common design, it will look different. That is what makes it special.


As soon as others look at it interested you will be very proud of it. Of course the teacher will help you a little but 95% of the pendant is YOUR work. Handmade! Promised!


But you can make more of it than only pendants. Earrings that maybe match the pendant are possible as well. But you should have a little bit of practice because they are smaller and need more precision.

Who wants to know more about bonecarving can go on reading on another page where I try to explain how to create your own bonecarving.


More information about the workshop


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