This fabulous Hei Matau is hand carved from a gorgeous piece of Inanga Pounamu, showing soft pale green tones with subtle shifts in colour through the stone, with a satin finish, this will be a special taonga.
Pounamu sourced from the Arahura river by Kaitiaki Peter Tauwhare https://www.mokopounamu.co.nz/pounamu-carvers/pete...
Hei Matau - Fishhook - Originally Māori have been fishermen. Their main food source was the sea, so a fishhook of high quality was an unbelievably valuable item to own. The hook became a symbol of prosperity, abundance, good health, power, authority and respect for the sea and its life in it. They also provide good luck and safety while travelling across water.
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.
Hand Carved by Peter Bishop
Size 82mm long x 43mm wide x 6mm thick
