TRADITIONAL DESIGNS

This collection contains traditional designs, carved in a range of materials.

KORU

Rebirth ~ Purity ~ Peace

Koru is the Māori word for 'loop'. The spiral shaped koru design graphically represents an unfolding silver fern frond. The circular movement towards an inner coil refers to ‘going back to the beginning’.

TIKI

Fertility ~ Fortune ~ Creation

The Tiki is a very ancient symbol and, while quickly recognised, is by far the least understood of traditional carved designs. There are a number of legends in relation to its meaning. Some say the Tiki came from the stars and that he was the first man of the world. Other theories suggest that tiki represents the human embryo - forming life.

PIKORUA

Friendship ~ Knowledge ~ Love

The Pikorua or single twist shape represents the eternal emerging paths in life.  The figure-eight form symbolizes the bond between two people, their loyalty and love.  This shape reflects the natural ebbs and flows that occur in a relationship without breaking the bond of friendship or love.

TOKI

Courage ~ Wisdom ~ Authority

A symbol of courage and strength in times of adversity. Toki were worn by Māori elders as a symbol of power, wisdom and authority. 

The toki (adze) was a chisel tool used by the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) to carve their great canoes and the detailing on meeting houses. When lashed to a wooden handle it was also used as a weapon.

MATAU

Prosperity ~ Abundance ~ Fertility

Much of Māori theology was based around the sea - Māori crossed the Pacific Ocean to find New Zealand (Aotearoa) in sailing canoes, fishing to survive these long and dangerous journeys.

Legend has it that New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner Maui using a line of woven plant fibre and a bone hook - so the hook, or matau, is central to our Islands.

MANAIA

Guide ~ Protect ~ Communicate

The Māori people have many legends about the creation of the earth and how New Zealand was discovered. These legends include a number of mythical beings, some of whom have control over each of the elements while others belong to the realm of ancestral spirits.

The Manaia can be blended into many Maori designs with subtle differences between tribes.  Most Maori art tells the story of a tribe or event. The Manaia therefore has many forms as it is intertwined with other shapes and patterns to depict its different powers and its interaction with the spirit or mortal worlds.

WHEKU

Ancestor ~ Heritage ~ Spirit

Wheku, meaning 'carved face', depicts the face of an ancestor.

The Wheku is generally found at the apex of the gable on a Wharenui, the Maori meeting house, and symbolises an important ancestor after whom the house was named.

Sidebar

Size

Design

Material

More filters

Show All
Filter
  • Featured
  • Best selling
  • Alphabetically, A-Z
  • Alphabetically, Z-A
  • Price, low to high
  • Price, high to low
  • Date, old to new
  • Date, new to old
Sort

Sort by:

  • Featured
  • Best selling
  • Alphabetically, A-Z
  • Alphabetically, Z-A
  • Price, low to high
  • Price, high to low
  • Date, old to new
  • Date, new to old
  • Hand carved large New Zealand Flower Jade Koru with Greywacke stand sculpture. Hand carved here in New Zealand by Ric Moor. This is a 'one only' sculpture, a beautiful display piece.Koru sculpture on a wooden table in a modern living room.
    NZ Pacific
    SUNRISE MEETS SUNSET
    NEW ARRIVAL ONE ONLY We named this wonderful sculpture SUNRISE MEETS SUNSET. You decide which way up it goes... you make the call whether it's SUNRISE or SUNSET. A spectacular, flower jade koru sculpture. Hand carved by New Zealand Master Jade Carver - Ric Moor. SUNRISE...
    £1,770.00 GBP
    £1,770.00 GBP
  • A hand carved large Black Jade drop, roimata, necklace. The cord is a black colour and is a fixed length. A large sized hand made drop necklace by New Zealand artist Kerry Thompson. One off work of art to wear.A hand carved large Black Jade drop, roimata, necklace. The cord is a black colour and is a fixed length. A large sized hand made drop necklace by New Zealand artist Kerry Thompson. One off work of art to wear.
    NZ Pacific
    AWE AND WONDER
      AWE AND WONDER - elegance pure... No matter what happens in life, never lose your sense of AWE AND WONDER! This is a very large black jade drop pendant. Kerry has carved an outstanding piece of Wyoming Black Jade to promote its unique two-tone...
    £389.00 GBP
    £389.00 GBP
  • This picture shows a large matau, hook called a pā kahawai. It is carved from deer antler bone, wood, and paua shell. One only, free shipping worldwide. Provided with an adjustable black cord. Stunning work of Art to Wear by Fumio Noguchi.This picture shows a large matau, hook called a pā kahawai. It is carved from deer antler bone, wood, and paua shell. One only, free shipping worldwide. Provided with an adjustable black cord. Stunning work of Art to Wear by Fumio Noguchi.
    NZ Pacific
    AU FOND
    AU FOND The Pā Kahawai is a composite trolling lure that was widely used throughout Polynesia to troll for fish. This particular design was specifically made to target the Kahawai - a sea trout commonly found in New Zealand waters. The lure was trailed behind canoes...
    £358.00 GBP
    £443.00 GBP
    £358.00 GBP
  • A beautiful large hand carved matau with koru pendant. Carved for us by Ross Crump from rare New Zealand jade. This is a wonderful pendant to gift to someone special.A beautiful large hand carved matau with koru pendant. Carved for us by Ross Crump from rare New Zealand jade. This is a wonderful pendant to gift to someone special.
    NZ Pacific
    RAIN DANCE
    RAIN DANCE This is a significant carving - a visually stunning pendant carved from a beautiful piece of New Zealand Jade.  RAIN DANCE is a wonderful exemplar of the hook - a matau with three koru carved into the body. This is a wonderfully designed...
    £896.00 GBP
    £896.00 GBP
  • This pendant is a gorgeous and intricately carved mermaid hook pendant. Carved by renowned bone carver Yuri Terenyi for us. This is a masterpiece. It is a mermaid with her tail culminating into a hook. The craftsmanship displayed in this piece is extraordinary - a collectors item, or a piece to wear and love.This pendant is a gorgeous and intricately carved mermaid hook pendant. Carved by renowned bone carver Yuri Terenyi for us. This is a masterpiece. It is a mermaid with her tail culminating into a hook. The craftsmanship displayed in this piece is extraordinary - a collectors item, or a piece to wear and love.
    NZ Pacific
    L'AMACA DELLE SIRENE
    L'AMACA DELLE SIRENE - the mermaids hammock L'AMACA DELLE SIRENE is a gorgeous piece! Carved in bone for us by Yuri Terenyi. A pendant that will take your heart to the ocean (on a good day!) - it is enchanting and sensual, beautifully carved and ready...
    £214.00 GBP
    £214.00 GBP
    Choose Options
    Choose Options
  • Natural stained cow bone manaia with hook pendant. Hand carved by Yuri Terenyi in New Zealand. Unique design pendant for sale online. One only stained bone manaia, hook necklace. Free delivery worldwide. Delivered with an adjustable cord.Natural stained cow bone manaia with hook pendant. Hand carved by Yuri Terenyi in New Zealand. Unique design pendant for sale online. One only stained bone manaia, hook necklace. Free delivery worldwide. Delivered with an adjustable cord.
    NZ Pacific
    THE FACE OF VICTORY
    THE FACE OF VICTORY A bold, strong carved manaia hook... Carved for us by Yuri Terenyi - you can immediately recognise his bold carving style in THE FACE OF VICTORY. A hook that you can imagine being used to capture fish and nourish a...
    £68.00 GBP
    £68.00 GBP
    Choose Options
    Choose Options
  • This picture shows a green jade hook pendant, also called a hei-matau, carved for us in New Zealand jade. The carver is Ric Moor - and this is a beautiful example of his work. The cord is a four-plait, adjustable fine beige coloured necklace.This picture shows a green jade hook pendant, also called a hei-matau, carved for us in New Zealand jade. The carver is Ric Moor - and this is a beautiful example of his work. The cord is a four-plait, adjustable fine beige coloured necklace.
    NZ Pacific
    PRISTINE
    PRISTINE - New Zealand Inanga Jade Hei-Matau, Hook, Pendant This finely carved, delicate matau pendant from Ric Moor is made using gorgeous, rare Inanga Pounamu. PRISTINE is a wonderful example of beautiful craftsmanship - beautifully balanced and finished in a soft matte polish. The...
    £201.00 GBP
    £201.00 GBP

Recently Viewed Products