A fantastic Manaia handcrafted from a fabulous piece of black Pakohe (Argillite) stone. The amazing dark stone creates a moody intense Manaia and with a large bright mother of pearl eye, creates a taonga that's gorgeous and very special.
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.
Pakohe/Argillite - Known to Māori as pakohe, and to geologists as metamorphosed indurated mudstone, argillite is particularly associated with the Nelson-Marlborough region in New Zealand. It is found on Rangitoto (D'Urville Island), along the Whangamoa mineral belt, and in the upper reaches of the Maitai, Wairoa and Motueka Rivers. Māori valued Argillite’s strength, hardness and ability to hold a sharpened edge – which made it ideal for making tools (especially Adzes).
Mother of pearl
– The iridescent inside lining of a mollusc shell, commonly found in oysters, freshwater mussels, and abalone (paua).It is strong, resilient, and very iridescent.This multicoloured iridescence is caused by the way the light reflects on the layers of the shell.
A protection shell/stone that brings the gentle healing power of the sea to you. As a stress relieving stone, it brings relaxation and soothing to its wearer and the ability to calm emotion. Mother of Pearl also stimulates intuition, imagination, sensitivity, and adaptability.
Carved by Marshall Johnson
Size 92mm long x 55mm wide 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.
