Moko Pounamu Mango Genuine Whale Bone Carving - Mango-Taniwha

This gorgeous Mango (Shark) is hand carved from Whale Bone and has fantastic Paua patterns on both sides. Māori knew the Great White Shark by a number of names including Mangō-taniwha, ururoa and tuatini and consider the shark as a guardian, there is a Māori proverb that says; Kia mate ururoa, kei mate wheke (Die like a shark, not like a limp octopus)!

Mako Shark is a symbol of male strength, proud masculinity and potency. It offers strength, guile, protection and guidance to the wearer. As a talisman it brings affluence and good fortune to the wearers life and it is believed to protect the individual from evil spirits, shark attacks and water accidents., they have also been worn by Polynesians and Māori since the earliest exploration of Polynesia. They connect to the spirit of the shark, its ferocity and as an abundant food source.

Whale Bone has always been a special medium for Māori artists, Whales are considered a taonga species, and represent abundance, richness and were regarded as chiefly animals. Some tribes see whales as the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean and stranding’s are seen as gifts from Tangaroa and carving them is a way of honouring that gift. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Māori as both supernatural beings and as harbingers of personal change and spiritual growth.

Paua Shell – Abalone, our Paua shell is rich and deep in iridescent colours unique to New Zealand. Found all around the rocky shoreline coast but grows best in southern waters. Paua shell has been traditionally used by Maori to illuminate the eyes & features of carvings and artwork. While Paua sits within the abalone family, which is found in other parts of the world, namely, South America, Australia, Western North America, and Japan, our Paua's hidden, bright multi-coloured interior shell is only found in New Zealand.

Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from the Chatham Islands.

Carved by Nigel Ryan

Size 40mm long x 53mm wide x 11mm 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.