Sharing the essentials of carving pounamu

Greenstone Carving

Techniques and Concepts in Pounamu 

Len Gale

The late Len Gale was not only a superb craftsman in many materials, but also a teacher who had the gift of explaining creative processes in simple terms. 

That shines through in this smart edition of his much-appreciated introduction to the art of greenstone carving, which had been out of print but still in demand for the past 20 years.

Greenstone Carving takes readers from the origins of pounamu/ greenstone through the basics of the artform — elements of design, essential tools and techniques, stone types and safety. 

Len guides readers through steps from making basic holes and discs to the creation of popular Māori designs such as hei tiki, toki, pekapeka, mere and hei matau. 

The text is accompanied by detailed drawings and photos,  enhanced by images of superb finished work from the Moko Pounamu studio, Ōtautahi/Christchurch.

This new book joins an expanding range of Māori craft books from Oratia, including Hirini Moko Mead's Te Whatu Tāniko: Tāniko Weaving Technique and Tradition and Te Toi Whakairo: The Art of Māori Carving.

The Author

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.

Publication Date: 15 June 2022 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004216-4 |  RRP $39.99

Paperback, 270 x 185 mm portrait, 32 pages colour