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Bone Pendants
The Maori are well known for their beautiful carving skills. This pendant is hand carved from beef bone. Traditionally whalebone was used, but the exportation of this is banned for conservation reasons. Now only the bones of beached whales are used and only for sacred carvings. The fishhook is one of the more traditional pieces that are carved. It is rich in symbolism and was worn as a personal adornment to ensure success in fishing. The mythical Maori figure, Maui Tiki Tiki-a-Taranga, is said to have fished up many things including the north island of New Zealand. Angela bought this piece directly from artist Courtenay Taylor in Nelson.
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