Antique & Fine Poumanu Items

Poumanu, which refers to New Zealand nephrite and sometimes bowenite, naturally occurs only on the South Island and has been prized for centuries in Maori culture. Known as a taonga (treasure), poumanu is revered as a sacred material and items carved from it such as weapons, jewellery and talismans are passed down as family heirlooms, only given on important occasions.  Those pieces carried by chieftains to denote their authority were considered to carry such potent mana (spiritual power and/or prestige status) that they were tribal heirlooms, given only on major occasions such as the sealing of peace agreements. 

During the Victorian and Edwardian period, poumanu was used to create many small fine items such as souvenir spoons set with sterling silver mounts. Poumanu remains highly prized today; in 2011, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key presented then US President Barack Obama with a ceremonial poumanu wahaika (a traditional Māori weapon) carved by NZ artist Aden Hoglund.