Three old Maori greenstone tiki sold for $US45,600 at Sotheby’s auction in New York earlier today.

Maori Tiki, New Zealand Green Stone Contributed by Juliet Bowell Hide image ... Tikis were and still are made by the Maoris out of NZ greenstone, a type of Jade which is highly valued.

A Maori staff, hand club and greenstone tiki fetched more than double their estimated price at Sotheby's in New York. Jeff Hobbs, Advertisement. Advertise with NZME. Advertisement ...

The two pieces, described as 'Maori Gable Ornaments', are expected to fetch more than $40,000 when they go under the hammer at Sotheby's on Friday (NY time).

These tiki are souvenirs from New Zealand from different times and places. They are based on the Maori hei tiki, highly valued neck ornaments, often carved out of pounamu, or NZ jade ("greenstone").

Maori carvers use greenstone to create versions of the design, an echo of the legend that Maui pulled their islands from the sea. A hei matau, made from pounamu, the Maori word for New Zealand ...