David Taylor calls this bone pendant design "Rei Niho ( Taratara o kae)".  The stylised whale tooth design incorporates a double spiked spiral design ( taratara), evoking the ancient Maori story of Tinirau's pet whale, Tutunui. 

In a nutshell, Kae stole Tinirau's pet whale and beached it.  His people cut up Tutunui and cooked the meat in the village ovens.  Tinirau could smell the cooked flesh and sent a group of his women to find Kae and bring him back.  They could only identify Kae by his niho t

piki, a tooth that has grown over the top of another, so had to work hard to make him smile and show his teeth!  Kae was taken back to Tinirau and in customary Maori fashion, was killed in revenge.

David Taylor is an accomplished local Maori artist who designs and makes these exquisite Maori Bone Pendants for you.  Each is a work of art.

The Rei Niho Bone Pendant measures approximately 80mm x 40mm (3 1/4" x 1 5/8") and rests on a natural muka (flax) cord.