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Kirituhi ring

Kirituhi, Māori tattoo ring in sterling silver

The Kirituhi ring, a piece of sterling silver jewelry adorned with Māori tattoo patterns, embodies the cultural and spiritual heritage deeply rooted in the traditions of the Māori people — a Polynesian people primarily living in New Zealand, particularly in the northern regions of the North Island.
Renowned worldwide for their tattooing art, the Māori skillfully combine curves, spirals, and geometric forms to create emblematic motifs full of meaning. This traditional art, passed down through generations, is far more than ornamentation: it serves as a form of identity-based writing — a personal and tribal life map carved into the skin.

According to an ancient Māori legend, the art of tattooing was introduced to the Māori by Mataora, a man whose life was marked by emotional turmoil and a quest for redemption. Married to Niwareka, a woman from the spirit world, Mataora lost his temper during an argument and unintentionally wounded her. Distraught, Niwareka returned to her spiritual family, leaving Mataora overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow.

Determined to win her forgiveness, Mataora embarked on a spiritual journey to the world of the ancestors — Te Pō, the subterranean realm of spirits. There he met Uetonga, his father-in-law. In the heart of this mystical world, Mataora was initiated into the sacred mysteries of Māori tattooing, or tā moko. Uetonga, wise and respected, revealed to him the true essence of permanent tattooing, showing the futility of temporary markings in contrast to the depth and permanence of tā moko.

Recognizing the sacred value of this tradition, Mataora accepted the intense pain of facial tattooing — a symbol of his repentance and desire for reconciliation. After enduring physical trials and suffering, Mataora was reunited with Niwareka and returned to the human world, now bearing the distinctive facial markings of tā moko. This initiatory journey transformed him profoundly and allowed him to bring back the sacred knowledge of Māori tattooing — a symbol of spiritual connection, identity, and respect for ancestral tradition.

The very name Kirituhi literally means “design on the skin” or “decorated skin” in Māori. In recent years, a clear distinction has been made between tā moko, which is reserved for people of Māori descent, and kirituhi, a form of Māori-inspired tattooing created for non-Māori in a spirit of cultural respect. Tā moko is a sacred rite of passage, generally practiced according to strict protocols and composed of motifs deeply tied to genealogy (whakapapa) and tribal history.

Kirituhi, although visually similar, is a more contemporary form of artistic expression. It retains the aesthetic of tā moko while allowing more space for personal interpretation. Each motif engraved on the Kirituhi ring tells a unique story — the story of the person wearing it. It reflects their family history (whānau), ancestry (whakapapa), community (iwi), and the defining moments of their life journey.

The Kirituhi ring is an artistic interpretation of this millennia-old tradition, engraved with a carefully curated selection of Māori-inspired motifs: graceful curves, symbolic half-circles, circles representing unity and the cycles of life, and triangles evoking strength, balance, mountains, and the connection to the land. Some motifs may also symbolize protection, transformation, travel, or values such as courage, honor, and endurance.

Each symbol carries deep meaning, creating a visual narrative that invites reflection on the richness of Māori culture — not as a mere decorative element, but as a vibrant homage to a living, honored tradition.

The Kirituhi ring is thus a tangible link to the history and spirituality of the Māori people — a symbol of respect and appreciation for an ancestral tradition of immeasurable depth. Whether worn for its aesthetic beauty or its evocative symbolism, this ring embodies the meeting of art and culture, inviting us to celebrate the diversity and depth of human stories. It reminds us that behind every engraved symbol lies a narrative, a memory, an identity.

 

Metal: Sterling silver (925)

Band width: 10 mm

Production time: 5 business days before shipping

 

Thickness of the ring: this model can be made with thicknesses of 1 mm, 1.3 mm or 1.6 mm. For reference, go to the last photo of the slideshow.

The ring thickness on the model is 1 mm.

Important: depending on your finger size, the solder at the back of your ring will show an interruption in the pattern with a plain vertical and in order to keep an overall harmony. Each rind is custom made and each finish will also be custom made (please refer to the example picture at the end of the photo series).

As we currently dwell in Mexico, provide a period of 3 to 6 weeks to receive your order for free with normal post service. Thank you for taking this information into account before ordering in our shop. At checkout, you will also have the option of choosing an express shipping. (please, read the complete conditions of shipping here).

You have a question? Contact us.

I hope you will love this jewel as much as I enjoyed creating it.

By Emmanuelle Guyon.

Tags : Māori, tribal, tattoo, Māori wedding, Polynesian wedding, Mataora, Kirituhi, Niwareka, tā moko, spirit, initiation, Polynesia, curve, spiral, geometry, geometric, circle, community, family, story, tattoo artist, symbol, skin, beauty, tradition, ethnic, tribal wedding, ethnic wedding, island, travel, Polynesian, legend, escape, discovery, beach wedding, nautical wedding, kirituhi, spirituality

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