About Jade, Bone, and Shell Art
Hei Matau: A hei matau taonga is a bone, jade or wood carving in the shape of a highly stylized fish hook typical of the Māori people of New Zealand.-- Aotearoa. They represent strength, good luck and safe travel across water.
Koru: A koru taonga -- treasure is a bone, jade or wood carving is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace.
Hei Tiki: Hei Tiki are a taonga -- treasure that are either memorials to the first human being, ancestors, or they represent the goddess of childbirth, Hineteiwaiwa.
Manaia: The Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.
Among the other tāonga (treasured possessions) used as items of personal adornment are bone carvings in the form of earrings or necklaces. For many Māori the wearing of such items relates to Māori cultural identity. They are also popular with young New Zealanders of all backgrounds for whom the pendants relate to a more generalized sense of New Zealand identity. Several artistic collectives have been established by Māori tribal groups. These collectives have begun creating and exporting jewellery (such as bone carved pendants based on traditional fishhooks hei matau and other jade jewellery) and other artistic items (such as wood carvings and textiles).
Several actors who have recently appeared in high-profile movies filmed in New Zealand have come back wearing such jewellery, including Viggo Mortensen of The Lord of the Rings fame, took to wearing a hei matau around his neck. These trends have contributed towards a worldwide interest in traditional Māori culture and arts. ( source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hei-tiki)
Koru: A koru taonga -- treasure is a bone, jade or wood carving is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace.
Hei Tiki: Hei Tiki are a taonga -- treasure that are either memorials to the first human being, ancestors, or they represent the goddess of childbirth, Hineteiwaiwa.
Manaia: The Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.
Among the other tāonga (treasured possessions) used as items of personal adornment are bone carvings in the form of earrings or necklaces. For many Māori the wearing of such items relates to Māori cultural identity. They are also popular with young New Zealanders of all backgrounds for whom the pendants relate to a more generalized sense of New Zealand identity. Several artistic collectives have been established by Māori tribal groups. These collectives have begun creating and exporting jewellery (such as bone carved pendants based on traditional fishhooks hei matau and other jade jewellery) and other artistic items (such as wood carvings and textiles).
Several actors who have recently appeared in high-profile movies filmed in New Zealand have come back wearing such jewellery, including Viggo Mortensen of The Lord of the Rings fame, took to wearing a hei matau around his neck. These trends have contributed towards a worldwide interest in traditional Māori culture and arts. ( source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hei-tiki)
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