Hand Carved Wheku Mask 13cm by Thomas Hansen

Handcarved in New Zealand by Thomas Hansen.

Timber: NZ Swamp Kauri carbon dated at 45,000 years old.  NZ Swamp Kauri is the oldest workable timber in the world. 

This is a miniature of a mask that would be placed on the apex of a meeting house.

This particular style of Koruru is called Wheku.

9cm x 13cm x 3cm

About Wheku:

The wheku (gable mask) sits below the tekoteko (standing figure) on the top of a whare-nui (meeting house).  The mask can be related to an important ancestor of the house or be symbolic of a story relating to the origins of the carving.

A wheku in your home can be seen as a guardian role, with tongue thrust out to challenge whoever enters a room or dwelling.

About NZ Kauri