Bone carving
Double Manaia Whalebone
$3500.00 NZD
In stock, ready to send
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- Māori-owned whānau business.
The meaning
Manaia
The manaia is a guardian figure: a messenger between the earthly and spiritual worlds, said to watch over the one who wears it.
About this piece
Double Manaia Whalebone Breastplate.
The Manaia is a mythological creature in Māori culture, often depicted with a bird's head, a human body, and a fish's tail. Carved in whale bone, it serves as a powerful spiritual guardian against evil, representing the link between the mortal world and the realm of the spirits.
Whalebone (Paraoa): Whales hold tapu (sacred) significance in Māori mythology. Because they provided the community with invaluable resources, they are viewed as symbols of wealth, power, and abundance, similar in stature to a great chief.
Historically, bone from naturally beached whales was considered a divine gift. Carving these remains preserves the mana (spiritual authority and prestige) of the whale, honoring the animal while passing down a cherished cultural treasure.
Delivery & returns
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Bone carving
