Māori fishhook wall art panel

Description:

Fishhook wall art panel. Māori hei matau

Stylish Māori wall art panel from rimu that will look good in anyone's home or office. The wall art comes with sturdy gift box with koru design and protective foam.
Pāua inlay (eye) and mother-of-pearl inlay.

Information about the fishhook, hei matau

Information about the fishhook, hei matau In ancient Maori folklore, the exploits of Maui (half God/half man) stand unrivaled.

On one such adventure Maui stowed away in the waka (canoe) when his four older brothers departed on a fishing expedition. When they were far from land Maui revealed himself and convinced his brothers to paddle further out to the deepest sea where the fish would be in abundance.

With his enchanted fish hook which he had fashioned from the jawbone of his great grandmother, with its paua (abalone) shell eyes to see in the depths of the sea and a tuft of dog hair to keep the hook warm in the freezing depths and to retain the scent of the bait (blood from his nose) Maui cast his fishing line.

As soon as his hook descended to the ocean floor it was devoured by a giant fish. The ocean foamed and boiled as Maui struggled with all his strength to land the fish. Finally the fish yielded and floated to the surface. Te Ika-a-Maui (The fish of Maui) more commonly known as the North Island of New Zealand had arisen in the South Pacific Ocean. Te Waka a Maui (The canoe of Maui) is known as the South Island and Stewart Island is Te Punga a Maui (Maui's anchor)

Te Matau a Māui represents not only the land, but also prosperity, fertility, and safe passage over water. It denotes the importance of fishing to Māori and their relationship to Tangaroa (god of the sea).

Source: Mike Carlton - Māori artist

Overall size:

290mm x 95mm x 10mm
(11.42"x3.74"x0.39" )

• Comes with wall mount and stand


• Description at the back of the frame
  
  
• Comes with sturdy koru giftbox with protective foam
  
  
• Made from recycled NZ Rimu

New Zealand native Rimu

The majestic rimu can be found throughout New Zealand. Mature specimens grow to a height of over 60 metres (200 feet) and up to 1000 years of age. Heart rimu with a red/brown grain is one of the most beautifully figured woods in the world. A growing scarcity, fuelled by felling bans and ravenous demand has made rimu a highly sought after and priced decorative timber.  This product is made from recycled NZ Rimu.