Vintage New Zealand manaia pounamu nephrite jade pendant

Here we have a beautiful vintage New Zealand manaia pounamu pendant, carved from a  deep emerald nephrite jade.

The mania is a spiritual guardian which acts as a psychopomp between the spirit and earthly realms, and is usually depicted with the head of a bird, body of a man and tail of a fish. In Maori culture this symbolises protection and balance, guarding and guiding the wearer through life.

Pounamu, which refers to New Zealand nephrite and sometimes bowenite naturally occurring only on the South Island, has been prized for centuries in Maori culture. Known as a taonga (treasure), pounamu 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. 

Pounamu remains highly prized today; in 2011, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key presented then US President Barack Obama with a ceremonial pounamu wahaika (a traditional Māori weapon) carved by NZ artist Aden Hoglund.

Price marked at $300 AUD.

Measurements: 15.5 grams approximate weight. 6cm pendant length.

Excellent vintage condition.