Maori Bone & Jade Pendant Necklaces

The Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, are well known for their expressive and unique art forms.

The designs the Maori use in their bone artwork all have a particular significance. This is what attracts so many people to these forms of craftsmanship. Especially in the western world where interest in traditional religion decreases ancient folklore and historical symbolics such as those of the Maori are gaining popularity.

Carvings and other artifacts have been for thousands of years and still are tangible expressions of the beliefs and values of the Maori people. Examples of those values and beliefs are their respect for nature, their legends on the origin of the earth and life on it, and the connection with the spiritual world and the universe.
Picture: Maori woman with Moko (facial tattoo) and traditional Tiki pendant necklace. By Kahuroa

Their artwork functioned as a carrier of stories and legends because the Maori didn't have a written language. Passed on by tribal leaders generation upon generation these artifacts became sacred objects hence the Maori name Taonga (treasure).

Taonga were also thought to possess the spirits of ancestors, fierce warriors and important leaders who had owned them. Even today a traditionally crafted pendant, given with love and worn with respect is considered to absorb the spirit of the wearer being a powerful, spiritual object.

Hei is the Maori word for 'to wear around the neck'. Thus the term Hei Koru stands for a koru pendant worn as a necklace.

According to Wikipedia a pendant (from Old French) is a hanging object, generally attached to a necklace or an earring. All pendants, also Maori pendants, can have several functions such as ornamentation, identification (belonging to a certain tribe), protection (i.e. good luck amulets) symbols) self-affirmation (i.e. resembling a particular mythological guardian) ostentation (i.e. Maori jewelry) award (i.e tribal elder, renowned warrior)

Maori pendants were highly valued personal amulets. These treasures (taonga) were considered to have souls and were given personal names.

Picture by Kahuroa | Wikimedia Commons

Koru is the Maori word for the unfurling fern frond (Silver Fern). The spiral or scroll shaped koru design represents new beginnings, new life, the cycle of life, and a fresh start. Apart from that it represents peace, tranquility, personal growth, spiritual development, positive change, harmony and awakening.

The koru design is very popular. It is used as the logo of Air New Zealand, it is the major part of one of the several unofficial New Zealand flags, several artists use it in their paintings and so on. Even thousands of years ago it was already used. The koru design decorated the prows of the early Polynesian canoes that sailed the Pacific with its many islands.

The Maori word for greenstone (nephrite jade) is pounamu. This type of jade is harvested in river beds on the New Zealand South Island in an area referred to by the Maori as Wai Pounamu, the greenstone water. Pounamu is historically a highly valued material, considered an honor to give or receive. A few examples of New Zealand jade kiwi necklaces:



Click the link for these and more jade koru pendants

Pierce Brosnan playing a master thief in the movie 'After the sunset' with Salma Hayek. Brosnan is wearing a bone carved koru design pendant necklace.

The koru pendant on the foto has unique hand made bindings, and a platted cord.

A similar design is available here (bottom of the page) : Pierce Brosnan Koru

• Bone/ Ivory. Hundreds of years ago the Maori mainly used bone of stranded whales for their ornaments and tools. Wing bones of birds found their purpose as neck ornaments. Also human bones were used for spear points and fish hooks. The bones of human enemies were used as a mark of revenge.



• Greenstone/ Jade (Pounamu). The most valued, precious stone used to create pendants was greenstone or nephrite jade. (Pounamu is classed as semi-precious stone) This pounamu as the Maori called it was thought to have magical power. Not only neck ornaments were crafted but also ceremonial batons and clubs, and blades of ceremonial weapons such as adzes and chizels. For these special items greenstone with the highest quality was used. Greenstone was primarily harvested at the South Island, hence the Maori name for the South Island, Te Wai Pounamu.



• Paua Shell. Paua (abalone) shell is characterized by its iridescent and brilliant hues. Mostly purple, green and blue this material was often used as inlays to resemble eyes. Especially tiki and manaia pendants are still crafted with paua shell eyes. The glittering aspects of this type of shell were also used to give fishing hooks a reflecting appearance.



• Flax. Leaves of the flax plant were used for many purposes such as belts, baskets, fishing lines and nets but also as pendant cords. Flax was used both raw as well as prepared and bleached.

Source: Art, Belief and Experience in the Maori of New Zealand

Maori bone Pikorua. The Pikorua ("single twist") resembles the path of life and is a symbol of eternity also resembling the friendship, love and connectedness between two persons.

The crossing shape of the twist resembles the joining of two people's souls for eternity. Although they will be apart sometimes, whether geological or because of less prosperous times in their relationship they will always belong together. The twist represents how the paths of life of two persons blend and how they bond. That's why the Maori twist pendant is such a great gift for lovers who can't see each other for a while or just want to express their love for each other.

Click here for these and more stunning twist pendants.

The meaning of double and triple twists is roughly the same but these designs merely refer to the bond between different cultures or peoples instead of individuals. They also refer to the three baskets of knowledge.




Click here for some more New Zealand jade twist pendants

On the photo right, raw Australian black jade. Left; black jade pikorua pendants. Find more of these black jade twist pendants here.

copyright photo raw black jade by ColorWright

The mythological figure Manaia is a guardian with the head of a bird, human body and a fish tail. His body symbolizes heaven, earth and the sea and the balance between these elements. The bird is also thought to be a messenger or omen-carrier between man and the spirits.

Historically this supernatural, spiritual creature had supernatural powers allocating these to protect the Maori tribe (iwi) The wearer of a manaia pendant is thought to be protected against evil. Apart from this the manaia guardian is also intermediary between the earthly and spiritual worlds.

More bone and jade manaia pendants here.

The Maori word Kowhaiwhai refers to a traditional red, white and black colored pattern. These colors resemble the origin of the Maori tribes and were commonly found on rafters and meeting houses.

More specific; they refer to ancestral lineage and genealogy. In this matter the patterns are an expression of the power and spirits of the ancestors (genealogical mana).

As with the traditional Maori face tattoos, (moko), a basic, reoccurring element in the kowhaiwhai is the koru design. In contrary to traditional art forms such as tattooing (ta moko) and wood carving (whakairo) the art of creating kowhaiwhai did not require formal training or special initiation. Although easy accessible for many some specific creations are characterized by "sophisticated mathematical precision involving symmetry, rotation, reflection and translation". source: Auckland Museum

Kowhaiwhai pendants on photo by Lilach Paul Click the link for more designs, prices and buying.

Kowhaiwhai ornamental scroll paintings traditionally decorated walls and ceilings of dining halls (whare kai) and ancestral houses (whare whakairo). This ancient Maori tradition of creating complex and symmetrical patterns represent the stories of legendary ancestors.

The names of the specific patterns on the picture are from top to bottom; Koiri,, Patiki, Kuhoro and Mangotipi.



Pictures kowhaiwhai by Maori.org.nz. Visit Maori.org.nz for more patterns.

One elder said:

"We treat our artworks as people because many of them represent our ancestors who for us are real persons. Though they died generations ago they live in our memories and we live with them for they are an essential part of our identity as Maori individuals. They are anchor points in our genealogies and in our history. Without them we have no position in society and we have no social reality. We form with them the social universe of Maoridom. We are the past and the present and together we face the future."

source:Art, Belief and Experience in the Maori of New Zealand

Maori Torea pendant designs are based on the oystercatcher bird. Torea is the Maori name for the Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus Unicolor)
"Ka whati te tai, Ka pao te Torea": "As the tide recedes the oystercatcher strikes."

Photo by Kahuroa Wikimedia Commons

Below a few bone Torea pendants from the hands of master carver Kerry Thompson. The Torea pendants are in two tone stained bone, a distinctive mark of Thompson's work.

Two tone stained bone torea pendants on photo by Kerry Thompson

Taniwha is a mythological nautical creature. Sometimes referred to as sea monsters, Taniwha also lived in rivers, pools, swamps and underwater caves. Most Taniwha lived far from human settlements in areas feared by people. Taniwha were hostile creatures, monsters that were able to shapeshift. According to legends they appeared as huge sea snakes, giant squids, and monstrous sharks. On land they had bodies of giant lizards, eels, snakes or dragons.

Although these creatures frightened the Maori peoples, when treated with respect Taniwha acted as guardians. Each tribe (iwi) had its own guardian. Taniwha was also considered a connection between the human life on earth and the spiritual world of the gods, ancestors and stars. In this matter the mythological creature functioned as a link between common daily life and ancestral heritage.

Koropepe - eel-type fish, a mythical guardian. (pronounced cor-or-pep-eh)

The koropepe is commonly carved as if in motion and the design resembles a mythical eel or fish. It is a symbol of new beginnings and youth, prosperity and abundance.

The koropepe is thought to represent the curled eel which was one of the main protein sources hundreds of years back in Maori history. Many koropepe have a coiled appearance with bird-like heads. These heads are said to possess its spiritual power. The design is a relatively modern form as no ancient examples have been found.

The whale was and still is a highly regarded animal in New Zealand. They were traditionally considered children of the master of the sea Tangaroa and acted as guardians of Maori seafarers. The whale tail is a symbol of protection, and guidance for those on sea.

The Maori name of the fish hook is matau. The fish hook symbol goes back centuries when the Maori lived of the sea. Their main source of food was fish and seafood. Because the Maori people drew their reason for existence from their ability to catch enough fish the fish hook was not only a crucial tool but a symbol for life, well being and prosperity as well.

The exact historical clarification of the concept Tiki remains disputed. The most general accepted theories are the one of Tiki being the first man to set foot on earth, a descendant of the gods, habitants of the stars. Another is Tiki to be the bringer and bearer of fertility. Particular shapes in the design represent the unborn human embryo. The core of several different explanations is the notion ancestors. The tiki pendant was usually worn close around the neck as 'a display of ancestral pride'.

Nowadays the Tiki pendant is mostly considered a good luck charm. The wearer of a tiki pendant is thought to be able of thinking clearly and wisely, to be loyal and perceptive and have a powerful character. The most valuable tiki pendants were crafted from pounamu (New Zealand jade) and were passed on by generations as treasured and sacred possessions.

Typical hei tiki pendants were characterized by a forked tongue, a relatively big mouth shaped like a flattened heart, the iris of the eye existed of a ring of paua shell and, which is typical for Maori carvings, had three fingers to each hand and three toes to each foot.

Pekapeka is the Maori word for bat. Carved bone or jade pekapeka pendants are generally symmetrical shaped. This way the Maori believe it resembles the native bat best. Many times these carvings depict two outward facing heads with one attached body.

Historically pekapeka pendants were worn as ear ornaments by Maori tribes located in the northern island near what is now Auckland. Later on its use as a pendant started to grow more common.

A few of the best, renowned New Zealand bone carvers are the artists listed below. (there are many more great kiwi artisans of which I will list a few later) These artists all have their own unique style with which they distinguish their artworks from any other. At the same time do they craft bone carvings based on traditional methods with spiritual significance kept in mind.

Hepi Maxwell (1950) is a master carver specialized in pounamu (jade) carvings. He is entitled to use the "toi iho" (Maori made) registered mark. According to Maxwell his work is "not of a traditional nature but based on the gentle sweeping curves of ancient Maori art".

He needed to find an alternative source of income after a terrible truck accident in which he lost his legs. He then started his carving career and now is one of the leading Maori carvers. "I have come to love working with jade, because by it I am able to care for the ones I love while producing work that gives me great satisfaction and brings joy to the hearts of others".

Len and Candy Kay
Len is a former sales engineer specialized in deer bone carvings. He feels he has the right mixture and reasons to explore ancient Maori and Celtic myths, legends and their art forms.

Lilach Paul
Lilach Paul lives in West Auckland near the bush and the Kumeu river. She gets her inspiration from this rural and natural enviroment. Her designs often represent "the coming together of people in peace and harmony". Inspired on her own foreign background and her experiences with the mix of pacific cultures in New Zealand. Highly detailed, delicate carvings are her signature. In 2009 she won the first price of the Objective art awards with her work "In the Beginning".

Kerry Kapua Thompson (1967)
A leading Maori carver, specialized in bone and jade carvings, his work has a unique, recognizable style. Two toned stained carvings are his signature. Thompson has attended a diploma course in Maori Design at Waiariki Polytechnic and he also learned from artists like Hepi Maxwell.

Bone changes color when it is worn on the human skin. This because oils present in the skin are absorbed by the bone. The Maori ascribed this process to symbolize the spirit of the person inhabiting the pendant. When someone close or beloved was given a bone pendant it was custom to wear it for a while so the spirit of the giver would added to the gift as well.

"The Maori believed that everything had a definite soul (wairua) and a fluid notion of spiritual "essence" (mana). It was believed that mana revealed itself in the efficient form and behaviour of an item: anything from men, through to manufactured objects, land and nature. In humans, mana seemed to be linked to modern concepts of nobility, stoicism, authority, influence, prestige, power, psychic force, charisma and presence." source: Matthew Gream

Read more about Maori beliefs, culture and art in this pdf: Art, Belief and Experience in the Maori of New Zealand