Jewellery Workshop: Wood, Bone and Shell - Aaron Frater

Bone carving is a living art form in NZ, with its Maori history here and also its European history among both the early whalers & sailors and in the 1970's revival of bone & jade carving. Bone carving is a historical & living tradition in much of the world - all cultures have used bone for art & tools. To this day, scrimshaw is practiced in North America, ivory carving in the Innuit lands of Alaska, Siberia, etc and in the Japanese Netsuke tradition.

Bone carving is very NZ, but a worldwide craft art form. It has especial resonance for those of us who have grown up in NZ since the 60,s & 70's & into today, a craft art form that we can all relate to in some way. It can be wearable, body adornment, it can be tools, ornaments, amulets & talisman. The tradition is long & deep.

I feel the creation of fine craft art works from bone is an honouring of the animals, a way to give thanks for the life of those creatures we live with, make use of & eat.