ENGRAVED NZ MAORI CARVING DEER ANTLER BOUND HEI MATAU

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OUTSTANDING ENGRAVED DEER ANTLER MAORI HEI MATAU PENDANT designed, hand carved and perfectly finished by Pacific Island Tohunga Master Carver S Funaki. His exquisite and inimitable work is highly collectible especially his Hei Matau, Manaia and Hei Tiki - recognized to be amongst the best in New Zealand and sold at New Zealand's principal Maori Art Gallery Iwi Art. This is a stunning sculptural artwork carved from smoky grained deer antler, beautifully engraved with Maori Kowhaiwhai designs. It's expertly bound with SINGLE KNOT lashing and suspended on a black waxed adjustable cord. It measures 3" by 1.9" with a depth of 8mms and beautifully bevelled edges. Deer antler is a regenerating medium (stags shed their antlers annually) and perfectly suited to fine Maori carving - it has a cool alabaster feel and often has smoky grain giving it depth and texture. The Hei Matau is the legendary fish hook with which Maori demi God Maui is said to have pulled the North Island of New Zealand from the South - it represents triumph and prosperity. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MOST OF THE BONE CARVINGS YOU SEE ON EBAY ARE MASS PRODUCED OUTSIDE OF NEW ZEALAND. THIS IS A TRADITIONAL ONE OF A KIND CARVING BY A MASTER CARVER ENTIRELY HAND MADE IN NEW ZEALAND - THE PRICE REFLECTS THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS CARVING AND THE UNIQUENESS OF IT. read more

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