Moa Hunter Period Rei Niho - Pounamu Neck Ornament

Sands Signature

10061

Introducing our Signature Moa Hunter Period Rei Niho - Pounamu Neck Ornament hangs from a 270 x 5 mm copper sterling silver coated foxtail chain. It features eight graduated Kahurangi pounamu rei niho seperated by sterling silver-lined pounamu beads. Four niho measuring at 8.5 x 2 cm and four at 8.5 x 2 cm. This piece was hand-carved and crafted by Alex Sands and John Mayo

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.