New Zealand, Maori, ca. 20th century CE. A finely carved jade pendant suspended from an 18K gold wire depicting a variant of the so-called manaia, with the head of a bird and the tail of a fish, a gold wire for suspension threaded through one end. The manaia is generally regarded as a supernatural entity, and today it is believed to symbolize harmony between earth, sea, and sky. Historically, the avian iconography stems from the idea that birds are vehicles for souls of the deceased to journey to the afterlife. Manaia acted as omen givers as well as guardians. It is believed that wearing a mania pendant will protect one from evil and simultaneously connect one to ancestral souls. As we see in this example, they are characteristically presented in profile, signifying that one part of the manaia resides in the spiritual realm and one part in the earthly realm. Size: 2.875" L x 1.625" W (7.3 cm x 4.1 cm)

Provenance: private east coast, USA collection

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#127438

A small nick to the tail end, and a few scuffs and scratches, but otherwise very good.