Contemporary Manaia Pounamu Pendant
by Ric Moor
This contemporary Manaia pendant has been hand carved from New Zealand pounamu (greenstone/jade) by carver Ric Moor.
The manaia has the head of a bird, the body of a human and the tail of a fish, symbolising the sky, earth and sea which represents the unity between the spiritual, the physical and the afterlife. .
Pounamu is the Māori name for greenstone or nephrite jade which is only found in the South Island. It is an extremely tough material and is said to absorb the owners essential spirit, feeding it back to them and enhancing their strength.
Ric was born in the Bay of Islands where he spent much of his youth carving bone, stone and working with silver but now lives on the West Coast of the South Island. He has been carving for many years and loves working with pounamu because of its permanence and cultural significance.
Black wax cotton slip knot cord- 30cm fully extended
Size: 5.6 x 3.5 x 0.5cm
Made in New Zealand