This monumental 155mm x 50mm Maori and Polynesian Manaia is hand-carved from natural cattle bone, serving as a dual-heritage guardian of the sky, earth, and sea. It integrates traditional Koru spirals and the three-fingered hand to symbolize ancestral protection and the sacred balance of life.
This "Living Taonga" is a rare synthesis of Pacific artistry, merging Maori and broader Polynesian motifs to represent a unified heritage. The Manaia—a spiritual sentinel with a bird’s head, human body, and fish tail—acts as a conduit between the mortal and spirit realms. Carved from high-density cattle bone, the piece features the traditional three-fingered hand, acknowledging the cycles of birth, life, and death. As the wearer carries this guardian, the bone absorbs natural oils, evolving from a stark white to a deep honey-gold patina—a physical record of the wearer's Mana and developing Whakapapa.
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