| Native Name | Hei Matau |
| Object Number | P3123 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Maori |
| Provenience | New Zealand |
| Period | Te Huringa I Period |
| Date Made | 1800 - 1900 CE |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Greenstone |
| Description | A hei matau (hook pendant) made of pounamu (greenstone). A fish hook with double inner and outer barbs in crescent shape on point, shank leg straight with perforation, shank leg slightly longer. Hei matau are pendants worn around the neck made of either bone or greenstone in the shape of a fishhook. The hei matau symbolizes strength, prosperity, safe travel over water, and a deep connection to the ocean. For the Māori, fishing was essential for survival, and the fishhook became a powerful emblem of abundance and respect for the sea. |
| Height | 7.5 cm |
| Width | 5.4 cm |
| Credit Line | Purchased from W. O. Oldman, 1912 |
| Other Number | 29477 - Dealer's Number |
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