HEI TIKI series

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Remember those little plastic hei tikis we had as kids, made (probably in China) of dark green plastic? The Hei tiki was originally made of pounamu and was an ornamental pendant of New Zealand Māori. The word Hei, referring to the fact that it was worn around their neck. Tiki is a carved form. The theory of the origin of the Hei-Tiki suggests a connection with Tiki, the first man in Māori legend. It is the embryonic form of the first born. The opening in the head (fontanelle) is where wisdom is passed through. Nowadays, it is a talisman and is said to bring good luck and fertility. I choose to enlarge it in my art to give it the importance it deserves. Before colonial times, it took up to 500 hours to carve a single Tiki and it was a very revered possession passed through generations. It is often the only physical link that Māori have to their ancestors and so it is considered a taonga (treasure).

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HEI TIKI - MANGU acrylic and variegated leaf on oak board 115cm x 155 cm $15,250

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room. JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

HEI TIKI - NEPHRITE POUNAMU acrylic and various variegated leaves on oak board variegated leaf frame 85cm x 85cm $7950

HEI TIKI - KARAKA acrylic and variegated and generic gold leaf on oak board 1100 x 800 varigated leaf frame $9500

HEI TIKI - KĀRIKIKÕWHAI acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 $6550 sold

HEI TIKI - FIRST BORN acrylic and variegated and generic gold leaf on oak board 1100 x 1100 variegated leaf frame $9950 sold

HEI TIKI - GIVEN TO CAPT. COOK IN MAHIA acrylic and variegated and generic gold leaf on oak board 85cm x 85cm $7500 sold

HEI TIKI - PĀPURA (to be purple) acrylic and variegated and copper leaf on oak board white box frame 1150 X 1550 sold

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room. JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

HEI TIKI - YELLOW AND COPPER acrylic and variegated metal leaf on oak board 1150 x 1550 $15,250 sold

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room. JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

PUKAKI - KŪWAHA (GUARDIAN CARVING) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 sold

HEI TIKI - KAHUKURA (to be multicoloured) 1200 x 1600 sold

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

HEI TIKI - MURAMURA (COLOURFUL) WITH FEATHER acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 1200 x 1600 white box frame sold

I also paint on commission. These collectors were specific about the colours that they wanted.

HEI TIKI – AUMOANA (ocean) Large acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 1600 x 1200 white box frame SOLD

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

HEI TIKI - WAIPOROPORO (PURPLE) acrylic and variegated and generic gold leaf on oak board 800 x 800 white box frame SOLD

HEI TIKI - WAIPOROPORO (PURPLE) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - FOUND IN NORTHLAND, WESTLAND POUNAMU acrylic and variegated and generic leaf on oak board 800 X 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - POUNAMU WITH FEATHER acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 SOLD

HEI TIKI - FOUND IN PARAPARAUMU, FROM WAKATIPU POUNAMU acrylic and variegated and generic leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM

HEI TIKI - POUNAMU WITH HEAD TILT (LARGE) acrylic and generic gold leaf on oak board 1200 x 1600 SOLD

HEI TIKI - MURAMURA (COLORFUL) WITH HEAD TILT acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 1200 x 1600 SOLD

Detail of Hei Tiki - Muramura with head tilt

Hei Tiki - Muramura (colourful) with Head Tilt

HEI TIKI - MURA MURA (SMALL) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - POUNAMU (LARGE) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 1600 x 1200 SOLD

I also work on commission. These collectors wanted a particular size to suit their space.

HEI TIKI - PATAKA POST KĀKĀRIKI acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 SOLD

HEI TIKI - TUPU (new growth) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room INFO@JENNYMEHRTENS.COM

HEI TIKI - TUPU (new growth) FRAMED PRINT A special edition of 10 only Hei Tiki works on paper. The works are Giclee printed on beautiful Hahnemuhle art paper and framed in a white box frame. Framed size is 17" x 21". Each print is numbered and signed. All sold

HEI TIKI - PAPURA acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 SOLD

HEI TIKI - GUARDIAN POST acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 400 x 1100 SOLD

HEI TIKI - GUARDIAN POST

acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board

400 x 1100

dark box frame

sold

HEI TIKI - KURAKURA acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 1200 x 1600 SOLD

HEI TIKI - WAIMARIE KĀKĀRIKI acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - KĀKĀRIKI WITH HEAD TILT acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - TAWA acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board raised lettering 800 x 800 SOLD

HEI TIKI - KAHUKURA acrylic and generic gold leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 white box frame SOLD

HEI TIKI - WAIMARIE KOWHAI acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 1100 SOLD

HEI TIKI - AUMOANA (OCEAN) acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 white box frame SOLD

HEI TIKI - KIKORANGI acrylic and generic gold and variegated leaf on oak board 800 x 800 SOLD

If you email me a photo of your wall I can show you what any of my paintings will look like in your room. JENNYMEHRTENSARTIST@GMAIL.COM