An exquisite Manaia, handcrafted from a striking piece of Kahurangi Pounamu. This remarkable sculpture is mounted on the natural end of the same stone from which it was carved, creating a seamless connection between the artwork and its source. A stunning taonga that celebrates the beauty, depth, and natural character of Pounamu.
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
Kahurangi- Genuine West Coast Greenstone from the Marsden, West Coast area. Kahurangi is the rarest variety of pounamu. It is highly translucent and often comes in vivid shades of green. Small, feather-like markings in the stone can give a cloud effect – although to be classed as Kahurangi, this effect must not reduce the stone’s clarity. The word Kahurangi also indicates nobility and refers to precious jewels and held in high esteem by Māori.
Hand Carved by Peter Bishop
Size Sculpture - 70mm tall x 141mm wide x 10mm thick
Base - 139mm wide x 86mm deep x 29mm high
Total height 86mm
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.
