Hasta La Ideas

New-Zealand-based Bone Art Place sells amazingly beautiful pendants carved from bone, in the Maori style, by local artists. “They are soft and warm to the touch yet the finish is like polished glass,” explains the site. “Over a period of time bone carvings absorb oils from your skin and change colour to a very light honey gold. The Maori believe this to be the carving taking on some of your spirituality or essence and thus truly becoming a part of the wearer.”

There are several different styles the pendants come in. Seen up top is Hei-Matau, or hooks:

These very stylised fish hook bone carvings or pendants represent prosperity, abundance, fertility and strength. They are also seen as good luck charms, particularly for those traveling over water. Hei-Matau are symbols of power and authority which are held in great reverence by the Maori people.

Below are Manaia:

The Manaia is an ancient mythical being with a bird’s head and a human form. It is said to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits. The Manaia is a holder of great spiritual energy and is a guardian against evil. It can be seen blended into many Maori designs with subtle differences between tribes.

My favorite are probably the spiraling Koru:

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