Manaia wallhanger or manaia on a stand
Beautiful manaia wall art or manaia on a stand. We love this manaia design. These contemporary Māori artworks make a great gift for a special occassion.
$100.00 NZD
Approx $60.47 USD
or 4 payments of $25.00 with
Description:
Manaia wallhanger or manaia on a stand
This is a beautiful contemporary Māori artwork. It portrays the typical serpentine form of 'Te Manaia'. The artwork is crafted from plantation grown hardwood and embellished with NZ paua (abalone) shell.-
size manaia wall hanger:
285mmx145mm (11.22"x5.71") -
size manaia on stand:
310mmx145mm (12.20"x5.71")
The meaning of Te Manaia
Manaia - spiritual guardian. The manaia is a guardian spirit (a supernatural being) and plays an important role in the Māori world. According to the Māori every person on Earth has a Guardian Spirit which can be described as an unseen light surrounding each individual.During life this guardian is a protector from evil and untimely accident. And at death the guardian guides the spirit of the departed person safely to a spiritual doorway where it is re-united with the ancestors from the ancient homeland of Hawaiki.
Te Manaia (the manaia) are usually depicted in side profile, symbolising their role as messengers (ie. part in the spirit world and part in the earthly world). They normally have the had of a bird (sky) the body of a man (earth) and the tail of a fish (sea) symbolic of the balance they have between the realms. The three fingers and toes have varied tribal meanings. To some they represent birth, life and death.
To others they represent the three baskets of knowledge.
And yet to others faith, hope and love. Sometimes Te Manaia is depicted with a fourth finger, symbolising the afterlife.
Source: Mike Calton - Māori artist