This beautiful Toki pendant carved from New Zealand pounamu (greenstone/ jade) by Ana Krakosky features stunning carved Raranga detail.
Raranga is a plating technique done using only the fingers, originally used to create practical items essential for survival. Māori weavers use harakeke (New Zealand flax), kiekie, and pīngao (golden sand sedge).
The Toki symbolizes strength, courage and overcoming adversity. The Toki design is derived from the Toki Poutangata which was a very valuable carving tool and more ornately carved.
Toki Poutangata were used for ceremonial purposes by Māori chiefs. The wearer of a Toki pendant is said to be the creator or shaper of their own pathway.
As a member of Te Atiawa, legend has it that her poeple descend from the sky; Ana takes inspiration from this and tries to implement it into her work. Her creative journey is deeply rooted in this connection, and she approaches her work with a focus on excellence, craftsmanship, potential, and mindful choices. With over ten years of experience as both an artist and educator, Ana has honed her skills in design and hard materials, creating pieces across various mediums including furniture, painting, silver-smithing, and jade carving.
Ana’s passion for jade carving is a more recent development, but one that has quickly become central to her practice. She enjoys shaping and moulding pounamu, appreciating the tactile experience of working with such a powerful, natural material. Drawing on her heritage, she often incorporates traditional Māori design elements while also blending these with modern aesthetics.
Her work is inspired by the natural world, particularly its geometry, movement, and organic forms. Much of her design process involves observing the intricate details of nature, and she finds great meaning in reflecting these influences in her creations. Ana is also deeply drawn to the feminine aspects of nature, incorporating this energy into her more delicate works, reflecting the essence of Papatūānuku, Mother Earth.
Ana is currently based in Greymouth, where she continues to explore and refine her craft, producing works that celebrate the beauty of Aotearoa and the timelessness of its culture.
Made in New Zealand
