This hand-carved Maori Heru (hair comb) is crafted from natural cattle bone and features a protective Manaia guardian with a shimmering Paua shell eye. Historically a symbol of high rank and prestige, this functional taonga serves as a spiritual messenger between the earthly and spirit realms.
The Heru is a traditional Maori hair adornment that serves as a visual marker of Mana (prestige) and personal authority. This specimen features a Manaia, a mythical guardian often depicted with a bird's head, human body, and fish tail to signify dominion over the sky, earth, and sea. Carved from high-density cattle bone, the Manaia acts as a spiritual sentinel, with its watchful Paua shell eye offering protection to the wearer. As the comb is worn, the bone will naturally absorb oils, developing a unique honey-gold patina that marks the passage of time and the accumulation of ancestral connection.
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