This carving represents the origins of carving, where Rua (a personification of knowledge) dived down into the deep sea into Tangaroa’s domain in search of his child, Te Manu-hauturuki. He found his child setup on Tangaroa’s house as a tekoteko (gable figure).
Tangaroa is one of the supreme atua of the Polynesian people he is lord of the ocean, and his house was richly adorned by carvings.
After Rua defeated the Ponaturi (the evil sea fairies) at that house, he took the carved posts on the outside away as examples and models, and brought them back to the human world.
Medium: Carved from native Tōtara wood, pāua, clam and mother-of-pearl inlays
Dimensions: 1000mm high
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