A large and impressive Charlie Raponi Wilson nephrite hei tiki, of Marsden jade showing good pale inclusions, the right hand to the chest, the left to the left thigh, the head tilted, the serrated paua inset eyes with red sealing wax detail of unusually large proportions. Length 15.8 cm. Note: Charles Raponi Wilson has been carving since the 1960s and is recognised as a leading carver of hei tiki, drawing inspiration from ancestral taonga. In 2009 he was commissioned by New Zealand Post along with other leading New Zealand artists to carve a hei tiki to feature on its annual Matariki stamp series. In 2010 his design was selected to feature on New Zealand's most valuable legal tender coin - the 1oz. gold coin