A fantastic Hei Matau from a gorgeous pastel piece of Auhunga Pounamu. A stunning carving with amazing colours and Kowhaiwhai patterns across the front. This will be a special taonga
Hei Matau(Fishhook) - Originally Maori have been fishermen. Their main food source was the sea, so a fishhook of high quality was a very 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.
Kowhaiwhai- The Kōwhaiwhai is a traditional Māori pattern that is used in whakairo (carving) and art, as well as being decorative, Kowhaiwhai patterns also help to tell a story. Kowhaiwhai in whare tipuna (meeting houses) are specially designed for the iwi (tribe) the house belongs to. It tells stories about their history. Kowhaiwhai are painted on the rafters or the tahuhu (ridgepole) of the house stretching the length of the building. The Kowhaiwhai painted on the ridgepole represents the whakapapa (genealogy) of the iwi (tribe). Nature is often the inspiration for these beautiful and stunning patterns.
Auhunga- Genuine West Coast Greenstone from the Arahura River area, West Coast. Auhunga Pounamu is a pale opaque green colour. Resembling the Southern New Zealand mountains, its --name translates to frosty, given as the intermediate of Inanga and Kawakawa.
Hand Carved by Reuben Tipene
Size 97mm Long x 52mm wide x 8mm thick
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.
