Moko Pounamu Mermaid Genuine Whale Tooth Carving - Anawhata

This incredible Mermaid is hand carved from Whale Tooth and is beautifully carved. She holds her gift of food to humanity, seeking peace, to stop the plundering of our oceans. We need to feel the spirit of the ocean. The mastery of this carver must be seen to be believed, stunning.

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.

Rei Puta are chiefly taonga traditionally carved from the teeth of Tohorā (whale). Rei Niho carved from pounamu maintains the beauty of the traditional form, symbolising the intimate connection between Maori and Tohorā.

Genuine Whale bone - Ethically sourced from Kapiti Island.

Carved by Owen Mapp CNZM

Size 189mm long x 30mm wide x 16mm 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.