Moko Pounamu Manaia NZ Genuine Inanga Greenstone and 9ct Gold Pendant - Waihinau

A beautiful Manaia hand carved from a fabulous piece of Inanga Pounamu hung on a 9ct Gold bail, this gorgeous design will be a wonderful taonga.

Manaia is a mythological creature in Māori culture and is a common motif in Māori carving and jewellery. The Manaia is usually depicted as having the head of a bird and the tail of a fish and the body of a man, though it is sometimes depicted as a bird, a serpent, or a human figure in profile. The Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.

Inanga- Pounamu takes its name from a freshwater fish native to New Zealand. It is pale and often transparent, like the young of the Inanga fish. It is pearly white to grey green in colour, and ranges from translucent to quite opaque. It can change colour over time, developing a light olive tint as it ages and oxidises - Highly prized by the Māori and the desired material for making Mere and Patu.

Pounamu and 9ct Gold Manaia Pendant

Carved by Ross Crump

Size 45mm long x 26mm wide

Total Length 56mm

All pendants come supplied with a 45cm Gold Plated chain.

This will be the exact piece you will receive in the photos, there may be a slight degree of colour variation based on different computer or device screen resolutions that you are viewing from.