This hand-carved Maori Heru (hair comb) is crafted from natural cattle bone and features a Koru spiral with a vibrant Paua shell inlay. A traditional symbol of prestige and high status (Mana), this functional taonga represents new beginnings and the unfolding of life.
The Heru is a significant cultural adornment traditionally worn by Māori to secure top-knots, signaling the wearer's rank and personal authority. This piece is hand-carved from dense cattle bone, topped with a Koru spiral—the pitau—which mimics the silver fern frond unfurling into a new life. The inclusion of a shimmering Paua shell inlay at the spiral's center evokes the "eye" of the ancestors, watching over the wearer. As a "living record," the bone will gradually absorb natural oils from the hair, transitioning from its initial white to a rich, honey-gold patina over years of use.
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