Kokopu Toki

Description

Chatoyant Jade with dendritic inclusions known as Kokopu after the native New Zealand trout. The jade is of a green to greyish colour with black spot-like dendrites of manganese, resembling the belly of the fish. This type of chatoyant nephrite is found all along the West Coast rivers and also the Tasman Nelson region, although the Tasman variety of Jade can also be found in a blue/grey and the well felted specimens also show a degree of translucency. Toki are a cultivation tools other-wise known as adzes there sizes vary from examples found up to a meter in length down to 30mm. Applications include use as garden implements, tatoo chisels, wood carving, weapons or strictly ceremonial.