Greenstone Carving: Techniques and Concepts in Pounamu | Len Gale

This concise guide to the art of greenstone carving, out of print for the past 20 years, returns in a smartly designed, fully illustrated new edition. Greenstone Carving takes readers from the origins of pounamu/greenstone through the basics of the artform - design, tools and techniques, different stone types and potential projects. Len Gale draws on his background as a craftsman and teacher explain popular Maori designs like hei tiki, toki, pekapeka, mere and patu. The text is accompanied by detailed drawings and photos, including images of superb finished works from the Moko Pounamu studio, Otautahi/Christchurch. This new book joins an expanding range of Maori craft books from Oratia, including Te Whatu Taniko and Te Toi Whakairo. Contents: CONTENTS Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 8 Ancient legend becomes modern reality 12 Taking up the challenge 12 Elements of design 16 Linking materials and methods 18 Essential tool and techniques 20 Saws, saw blades and sawing 20 Drop saw 20 Slabbing saw 22 Trim saw 25 Point carvers 25 Cutters 27 Polishing 27 Surface finish 29 Abrasives 30 Grain size 30 Bond 31 Safety 32 Making basic holes 30 Making a disk 30 Toki 40 Hei tiki (groove type) 42 Paua inserts 49 Hei tiki (hole type) 51 Pekapeka 56 Mere and patu 58 Hei matau 60 Care, protection and wearing of pounamu 62 Commission work 64 Glossary 66 Further reading 69 About the Author 70

Len Gale spent a lifetime committed to arts and crafts. After a varied career as a railway engineer, high-school teacher and artist, he devoted his later years to sharing and documenting aspects of his work, including in four books: Greenstone Carving, Wood Carving, Creative Metal and Technology Basics. Len passed away in 2016 at the age of 89.