Rei Puta Parāoa - Sperm Whale Tooth Pendant

Often considered descendants of Tangaroa, whales are whakapapa to Māori and are highly regarded tupuna (ancestors) symbolizing abundance and strength. Rei puta parāoa (sperm whale tooth pendants) are highly prized for their rarity and were often worn by chieftains leading to the saying “he rei ngā, he parāoa ngā kauae.” - If you have a sperm whale's teeth, you must have a sperm whale's jaw to carry them.

Traditionally, the lower part of a rei puta is a face with carved or painted eyes with the main body of the tooth being unadorned. This rei puta parāoa is exquisitely carved with whakapapa notches (representing the hands of friends and family we are intertwined with) up the sides, mangōpare whakarei (a pattern modelled after the hammerhead shark representing courage and power) combined with unaunahi (fish scales) embellishments binds the wearer to the ocean and Tangaroa.

This rei niho parāoa was carved in our Kirikiriroa workshop by Alex Sands from a single sperm whale tooth and measures 16cm tall by 5cm wide. The front of the tooth is polished to a semi-gloss finish with inlaid pāua eyes, with the back half being kept in its natural state.