Moko Pounamu Mango Genuine Whale Bone Carving - Tarata

This gorgeous Mango (Shark) is hand carved from Whale Bone. Māori knew the Great White Shark by a number of names including Mangō-taniwha, ururoa and tuatini and consider the shark as a guardia, 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 strandings 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.

Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from the Chatham Islands.

Carved by Moko Workshops

Size 62mm long x 21mm 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.