A handmade lime wood necklace featuring a contemporary interpretation of the Pikorua twist, combining laser-cut detail with careful hand sanding to create a lightweight piece of natural wooden jewellery.
The pikorua, or twist, has become a recognisable form in contemporary Māori jewellery and is associated with ideas of connection, intertwined lives, relationships and the paths people travel together. The twisting form offers a beautiful visual metaphor for people whose lives become connected — crossing paths, separating and coming together again while remaining linked.
Māori adornment has a long history of carrying meaning beyond decoration, with ornaments connected to identity, relationships, cultural knowledge and spiritual significance. The flowing, curved forms found within Māori visual traditions also provide a rich source of inspiration for contemporary artists.
This necklace is my own contemporary artistic interpretation inspired by the Pikorua form, rather than a traditional Māori-made taonga. I have created the pendant from lime wood, laser cutting the design before hand sanding it to smooth and refine the edges.
The pendant is finished with an adjustable waxed polyester cord, allowing the length to be altered to suit how you prefer to wear it.
Natural wood has its own character, so each necklace will have variations in grain, colour and small natural markings. These differences are part of what makes each handmade piece unique.
A lightweight and meaningful piece of contemporary jewellery inspired by the idea of connection, shared journeys and the people whose paths become intertwined with our own.
