item details
NameManaia (pendant)
ProductionUnknown; stonemason; 1750-1850
Classificationpendants
Materialspounamu, inanga (stone)
Materials SummaryPounamu manufactured by hand using stone, sandstone, and water.
Techniqueslapidary
DimensionsOverall: 7mm (width), 55mm (height), 41mm (length), 20.7g (weight)
Registration NumberME002984
Credit lineGift of Alexander Turnbull, 1913
Overview
Marakihau (stylised sea monster) form made from highly prised inanga variety of pounamu (NZ jade, greenstone). Marakihau are a feature of wood carving especially associated with the Mataatua tribe of the Bay of Plenty region. In wood carving it is often characterised by a stylised human figure with the lower body of a fish, and a long tubular tongue, and occasionally with a horned head. The marakihau was said to suck-up fish with its tongue, and up-turn waka (canoes), and swallow men whole.