Rei Niho Manaia - Moa Hunter Period Neck Ornament

Sands Carving Studio

P..3495S

The Archaic or Moa Hunter period is when the Polynesians made first contact with the moa, around 700 to 800 years ago. 

Moa Hunter people adorned themselves with necklaces made of various materials, including shark teeth, ivory, shell, stone, bird bone tubes, sperm whale teeth, and porpoise teeth, often featuring a central pendant made from a large sperm whale tooth or a stone replica.

This original Moa Hunter Period style necklace features 10 medium sized Pounamu Rei Niho and a large Manaia with an inlaid Paua eye. It was hand-carved and crafted by Alex Sands.