This nephrite hei-tiki is from New Zealand. The traditional hei-tiki is a large pendant made and worn by Māori people and passed down through generations. This example was made in the recent past using lapidary machines, probably for the tourist trade.
The hei-tiki in this model was made with modern lapidary tools to mimic the size, shape, and style of the traditional objects. The style of the working and large size suggests that it was made in the middle part of the 1900s.
Hei-tiki pendants were carved by Māori people from pounamu (nephrite ‘jade’ or ‘jadeite’), a green translucent stone of great spiritual importance. The carving of a human-like being represents Tiki, the first human in Māori cosmology. It also represents Hineteiwaiwa, the goddess of childbirth and fertility. Traditional hei-tiki were passed down through generations.
Hei-tiki have become icons of Māori culture and representative of New Zealand generally. They were prized by European sailors, military personnel, and travellers from the earliest period of contact with the Māori, and are frequently seen in popular culture today. Tourists to New Zealand often purchase modern-made nephrite hei-tikis as souvenirs, supporting a large lapidary industry there.