Jade Stylized Maori Inspired Fish Hook Necklace

Greenstone Nephrite Jade Stylized Maori Inspired Fish Hook Necklace 
Size: 5.0 cm (50mm)  Inches: 2.0" 
Comes on a hand-braided, black, with sliding slip knots for adjusting to different lengths.

The fish-hook shape of the hei matau finds its origins in Maori legend, which holds that the North Island of New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner Maui using only a woven line and a bone fish hook. Legend holds that the shape of Hawkes Bay is that of the hei matau, which caught in the fish's side. For the Maori, the hei matau is taonga (a cultural treasure). It represents not only their land, but also prosperity, fertility and safe passage over water.