A stunning old style double Manaia with red wax eyes handcrafted from a fabulous piece of Kawakawa Pounamu. A wonderful sculpture to treasure for generations to come. This carving is mounted on a beautiful piece of burr Rimu and will be a fantastic taonga for a loved and respected whanau.
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.
Kawakawa- is the most common variety of Pounamu. It comes in many shades - from strong, rich green to dark green - and often has small dark flecks, which add to its character. Named after the leaf of the Kawakawa. It is the main type used for jewellery purposes.
Hand crafted by Des Hetherington
Sculpture Size 216mm long x 81mm wide x 16mm thick
Base size 158mm wide x 104mm deep x 88mm high
Total height 305mm
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.
