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Pounamu Hei Matau Manaia Pendant - by Alex Sands
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Pounamu Hei Matau Manaia Pendant by Alex Sands
On a waxed thick plaited nylon cord
Adjustable length
11.5cm x 6.5cm x 6cm
About Hei Matau:
The Hei Matau (fish hook) finds its origins in Maori legend - the North Island of New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner, Maui, using only a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother. The fish hook denotes the importance of fishing to the Maori and their strong relationship to Tangaroa, the god of the sea. Originally a hook used to catch fish, it slowly became ornamental, particularly when Maori began trading with Europeans.
About the Manaia:
Manaia means containing Mana (prestige and power). It has the head of a bird, and the body of a human with the tail of a fish, representing the sky, earth and sea. It is a guardian angel. It is a spiritual piece that protects the wearer from evil.
About Pounamu:
No two pieces of pounamu are the same, and every stone is treated with the utmost respect by those who source and carve it.
Renowned for its beauty and strength, the rare stone is highly valued by both Maori and greater New Zealand. While generically known as greenstone or New Zealand jade, pounamu refers to the particular types of hard nephrite jade, found only in southern New Zealand.
