This beautiful tokotoko is a true statement piece. The staff is made from Māhoe and the handle from Deer antler. Inlays of Pāua shell adorn this piece along with Agate stone and resin used to create the eyes. Stunning and unique this is a piece for a true orator or collector.
A tokotoko whaikorero is an orator's staff used in formal Māori speeches (whaikorero). It is a symbol of authority and a tool to support the speaker, representing a connection to whakapapa (genealogy) and sometimes Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest. The term combines tokotoko (staff) and whaikorero (formal speech). Symbol of authority: Holding a tokotoko during a formal speech signifies the speaker's right and authority to speak. Support for the speaker: It provides physical support, especially for elders who are delivering a long speech. Connection to ancestry: The tokotoko can represent a deep connection to whakapapa, sometimes literally carved to represent a family's story. Symbol of Tāne Mahuta: The use of specific wood species connects the tokotoko to Tāne Mahuta, the atua (god) from whom Māori descend. Evolution over time: While traditionally simple, modern tokotoko have evolved due to European contact, incorporating features like handles and sometimes more intricate carving influenced by European walking sticks.
This beautiful tokotoko is a true statement piece. The staff is made from Māhoe and the handle from Deer antler. Inlays of Pāua shell adorn this piece along with Agate stone and resin used to create the eyes. Stunning and unique this is a piece for a true orator or collector.
A tokotoko whaikorero is an orator's staff used in formal Māori speeches (whaikorero). It is a symbol of authority and a tool to support the speaker, representing a connection to whakapapa (genealogy) and sometimes Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest. The term combines tokotoko (staff) and whaikorero (formal speech). Symbol of authority: Holding a tokotoko during a formal speech signifies the speaker's right and authority to speak. Support for the speaker: It provides physical support, especially for elders who are delivering a long speech. Connection to ancestry: The tokotoko can represent a deep connection to whakapapa, sometimes literally carved to represent a family's story. Symbol of Tāne Mahuta: The use of specific wood species connects the tokotoko to Tāne Mahuta, the atua (god) from whom Māori descend. Evolution over time: While traditionally simple, modern tokotoko have evolved due to European contact, incorporating features like handles and sometimes more intricate carving influenced by European walking sticks.
