DIFFERENT SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANING IN CARVING DESIGN

KORU

The true essence of growth, family nurturing, emerging energy unfolding into the next stage, New beginnings this carving is often a balance of simplicity with the Koru being the positive and the space around it being the negative in perfect balance the beauty of transition growth through space. Everything in nature seashell, vines, unfolding ferns, weather patterns, solar systems, etc. The interesting thing about the Koru form is that it radiates out wards and in wards its negatives are as beautiful as it is positives. Korus within Korus are families. Overlaying Korus are relationships.

WAVE

Very much like the Koru in shape and meaning but has the extra symbolism of endless energy, constantly moving, powerful enough to shape the environment around itself. This carving can come in many forms and is often used in combination with other symbols and styles.

FISH HOOK SHAPE

A tool for catching fish, the ancient ones wore them around their neck or on their ear so they wouldn't lose them. Very important to look after a good fish hook. It symbolizes abundance, provider, self esteem, patience being able to act, watch, wait, listen and read the signs in nature to be generous to have an understanding of deep mystical things like the ocean and to value honesty.

HEI TIKI

This piece was and is worn by the Maori of New Zealand, similar pieces have been unearthed from ancient civilizations in South America. The face of the Hei Tiki with its extended tongue and wide eyes expresses a warning that the wearer has the personal power to be in any situation. She/he is strong in any situation the stance of the body is ready for action, with its hands on its chest, stomach or upper leg it is a piece that is worn on journeys it is one of the guardian carvings.

SURFACE CARVING

Is full of the lines, signs and shapes of nature, study it and sooner or later you will see the ripples of the sand after the tide has gone out. The shapes a flounder leaves on the sea bottom as it scurries off, the ripples, the wading bird leaves in the shallows. Whoever is there will see it; it can show people's ancestry it can be a map of an area or a message for people who can read them. Most carvings with eyes are protectors the eye seeing danger and looking it in the eye this allows the wearer to reflect the danger. Eyes in carving in turn symbolize vision and the ability to see situations as they really are. Eyes reflect the observer.

INFINITY AND ETERNITY

No beginning, no ending, unconditional love. The triple spiral represents flowing over and past each other in harmony. This can be significant for yourself or for those you interact with. The top or small spiral represents the astral or head. Middle spirals represent the heart or soul and the bigger bottom spiral represents will or physical world. The heart or soul area separate the head from the will and symbolizes, live and make decisions from the heart, using the head and the physical will to keep the heart strong. Its shape or forms often reveal the inner beauty of the material that it is carved from and flows in the shape of growth.

TAIL

The tail shape in carving can be quite abstract but is usually based on the whale tail. It was usually seen by the ancient carvers from cliff tops or from canoes or waka, they observed the great power but also the great gentleness as the whales dived and splashed. The symbol of the tail means strength and gentleness. It is sometimes seen in the fish hook design. The tail also relates to direction and forward thrust which can be interpreted in life as a time of forward direction with strength, power and gentleness.

FREE FORM FLOWING SHAPES

This carving style contains all of the ancient symbolism from earliest art to the present and beyond. In its flowing movement it transforms the hard, cold material the artist is working with into a warm and pleasing shape flowing over each other under each other, twined and curled together as in a lovers embrace. Traditional and contemporary designs are often the starting point, but by observing nature their shapes are often given a flow like kelp seaweed on a West coast rocky bay, moving with the motion of the sea, tree roots growing down a steep river bank, the curly feely vines of the gourd family, the flight of the bird through the sky. Symbolizes individuality, keenness to look past the surface picture, minds that are naturally curious to the balance and detail. In life will be attracted to this style.

BIRD

Symbolism in contemporary carving often means freedom, flight, seeing things from above, wiseness, and evolution in traditional carving nature is more apparent the bird symbolizing the sky as the fish or the fish tail symbolizes the sea the raptor birds symbolizes far sight, power, agility, speed and fairness in matters of honesty.

SMALL SCULPTURAL CARVING

The Japanese have an art form called netsuke. The netsuke carver often spends hundreds of hours carving something the size of a walnut; this is reflected in the price. All of our carvings can be termed sculptural, even if they are very small, as the same thought process goes into smaller pieces as bigger pieces and often the smallness makes the carving process more difficult so in turn all of our carvings are sculptural and the same love goes into them whatever size.

HEARTS IN CARVING

Often the heart symbolizes love; belief in love, honesty, caring, it is the symbol of nurturing and tenderness and is often brought as a sign of love. Hearts in carving often represent living from the heart, making decisions not from the head or from the will, but from the all living center of balance- the heart.

END RAVE

In the end it is you the wearer, observer and purchaser that is the final part of the creative process. The artist searches out the materials, carving it into shape or form, using the ancient skills and symbols. Chooses designs that are relevant to the environment and time, in which they live. They put their time, love and energy into the piece. The wearer, observer and purchaser thank the artist by choosing a certain carving. The carving or piece of sculpture now interacts with your energy or the observer's energy to continue that creative process and become part of the ever changing history and future that is.