A stunning Manaia (Guardian) pendant handcrafted from Kahotea Pounamu - this strikingly hued paler Greenstone forms the base from which the carver has drawn the Guardian. With the tail spiraling into the centre of the lower part of the piece, and streaks of grain in the stone drifting across the face of the carving, this is a fantastic 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.
Kahotea
– Pounamu from the Greenstone, West Coast area. A type streaked or flecked with white. The name Kahotea derives from Kaho, meaning light coloured tea (white or clear).
Hand Carved by Ross Crump
Size 80mm long x 65mm wide x 6mm 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.
