New Zealand Pounamu Jade Inlay Dots – Small Craft Batch
A small batch of New Zealand Pounamu (nephrite jade) inlay dots, created as a useful by-product of my own jade carving and pendant-making.
While drilling holes into my Pounamu pendants, I changed the profile of my drill burr and discovered that it produced these small, neat round jade dots rather than ordinary drilling waste.
Rather than allowing perfectly good Pounamu to become dust or scrap, I’ve kept and sorted the pieces as a small batch of jewellery and craft inlay material.
Their compact size makes them suitable for adding small accents to handmade work, including:
• Jewellery inlay
• Wooden pendants
• Rings and bangles
• Jewellery boxes
• Small carvings
• Decorative woodwork
• Mixed-material craft projects
• Mosaic-style details
Each dot is naturally individual, with variations in green colour, translucency, pattern and mineral character depending on the original piece of Pounamu from which it was produced.
About Pounamu
Pounamu is a form of nephrite jade found in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a culturally significant material to Māori. It has traditionally been worked into tools, ornaments and taonga, with particular significance attached to its provenance, craftsmanship and the relationships associated with individual pieces.
Because of this cultural significance, I treat the material with respect and describe these pieces specifically as Pounamu inlay material, rather than presenting them as traditional Māori artefacts or taonga.
From Pendant Offcuts to New Material
These dots are a small example of how I try to make use of as much of my material as possible.
They originated during the production of my own Pounamu jewellery — a leftover material stream turned into something another maker can use.
This is a small batch, and once these particular dots have gone, there may not be another batch in exactly the same size, shape or colour.
Details
• New Zealand Pounamu / nephrite jade
• Small round inlay dots
• Produced during the drilling of Pounamu jewellery
• Small batch
• Natural variations in colour and pattern
• Suitable for jewellery and craft inlay
• Sold as craft material, not finished jewellery
Please note: Pounamu is a culturally significant material in Aotearoa New Zealand. These are loose craft/inlay components created from material used in my own contemporary jewellery work.
