Spirit of Tohora Necklace and Bracelet

I immediately fell in love with this beautifully carved Māori whale pendant the moment I laid eyes on it. I was visiting New Zealand and stopped in the wild coastal haven of Kaikōura, hoping to see the whales. While waiting for the boat, I kept staring at it; when we returned from the trip, I knew I couldn’t leave without it.

This gorgeous pendant sat in my private collection for many years. Admiring it recently, I decided it was time to give it a new life. I replaced the original cord with a long strand of beautiful, micro-faceted labradorite punctuated with iridescent, pebble-shaped beads. These stones echo the inlaid Pāua shell eye of the whale and allow the bone material, which has begun aging into a rich, buttery golden cream to truly stand out.

The length of the necklace allows you to wear it long or doubled, bringing the whale spirit close to your heart.

The Focal Point: The Carved Pendant.
Carved from polished bone, the circular pendant features a wrapping whale rendered in three-dimensional detail on both the front and reverse. Each side is set with a piercing, iridescent New Zealand Pāua shell eye.
This dual-sided piece is titled "Whale - Ngā Mātāmua a Tangaroa" (Whales, The Eldest Children of Tangaroa, God of the Sea). Hand-carved by world-renowned New Zealand master carver Brian Flintoff (QSM), the design represents a sacred guardian spirit (kaitiaki) linking the wearer directly to the power and protection of the ocean.

The Bracelet.
In traditional Māori adornment, the toggle (‘poro’) is a highly respected element. Carvers put immense care into these small cylinders because they secure the treasure (‘taonga’). I chose to bring this usually hidden piece to the forefront by transforming it into a matching bracelet. The blue-green labradorescence of the stones catches the light, evoking the deep, shifting waters of the Pacific ocean.

The necklace and bracelet tell a unified story, which is why I have chosen to sell them together as a set. Worn together, they offer a tale of protection, safe journeys and a deep connection to the sea.