Fish hook carving, original small sculpture Hei Matau

Description

The fish hook carving is my original handwork, my version of the Maori motive Hei Matau. Carved from natural black slate stone that is polished to a satin shine. Pinned and stone epoxy glued to an oval shape matching base, and that is where my signature is carved into.

8″ x 4.5″ x 2″              20.5 x 12 x 5 cm.             1.12 lb.             0817 kg.

The stone is a solid piece and has a silvery sheen.

The fish hook carving is new, only one is available. The sale price includes free shipping to Canada and the USA.

The Maori Hei Matau or fish hook is one of the most known carvings. It is a symbol of strength, wealth, and luck. It is also a symbol of the sea and of the Maori ancestors.

The Maori creation narrative provides a broad overview of Maori culture and tradition. The physical landscape is mentioned multiple times in the creation narrative, with the sky father and the earth mother referred to as the sky father and earth mother respectively. The Maori have a strong cultural and spiritual connection to the whole of New Zealand’s landscape that goes back centuries. As an Indigenous culture, many of the activities are centred around tribes, subtribes and extended family groups. Land and family are important to the Maori because it plays a significant role in their daily lives.
There are three primary uses for carvings within Maori culture: Recording of history and events Practical construction Decorative carvings The tradition of decorative carvings can be traced back to the Maori who did not have a written language. Carving was their way of telling stories. The deep symbolism associated with different shapes