Wahaika - 'Mouth of the fish'

Strength, resilience & unity! 
A variation of the Wahaika series. The moment someone walks into the room and sees this piece, it gives a sense of grounding. A space of calm and peace through strength and unity. If you are looking for a conversation starter, this Wahaika is for you! This piece would sit well in an entrance to your board room or the centre point of your home.

At the time, I sculpted this piece when I was living in Australia with a yearning to dive deep into maori culture and find my roots. With a 4 week stop over in Queensland visiting family before heading back to New Zealand, I had the urge to sculpt and ended up sculpting this piece in my uncles garage. For me personally this piece represents my cultural journey & the connection I have between friends & whanau both near & far. 

Traditionally, Wahaika are a type of traditional Maori hand weapon. Used for hand to hand combat they are usually made from whale bone or wood. Wahaika translates to 'Mouth of the fish' which is referring to the notch on the side which is used to catch the enemies weapon. The opposite side above the god-like figure was predominantly used as the striking edge. The god-like figure would usually represent an ancestor or the Maori god of war. 

Length: 600mm
Weight: Bronze 10kg, Base 2kg
Base: Gloss finish - epoxy enamel coated steel
Limited Edition: 5 of 20 If you're interested in purchasing this sculpture please get in touch through the online form on our Contact page.