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In this final “series” I would love to give you a couple more examples of special unique pieces of Paua Shell Jewellery. Handmade and lovingly crafted here in New Zealand.

Boomerang Pendant 

GP853/PO853

Visitors to Australia cannot miss the sight of a boomerang, the colourfully painted angled throwing stick you spot in every gift shop but you may not know that the boomerang has a very deep significance. — Especially to Indigenous Australians, the Aboriginals.
The boomerang represents their 60,000-year links to Australia, because they’ve been used for as long as Indigenous nations have thrived on the Australian continent.

Aboriginal Mythology

Boomerangs play a key role in Aboriginal mythology, known as The Dreaming — mythical characters are said to have shaped the hills and valleys and rivers of the landscape by throwing the sticks around in the hunt.

The boomerang was primarily a weapon for hunting and fighting, but may have been used for many purposes. Some of these include making fire, stoking coals, levering bark off trees, and digging, clearing areas of ground, cutting cooked meat, and scraping and smoothing other tools. They were also used in many parts of Australia in traditional games, dances or rituals.

Boomerang as a gift

The boomerang’s ability to return has made it a favourite symbol for the tourism and transport industries.
Australian military emblems have featured the boomerang, as have gifts and memorabilia associated with visiting royals and other celebrities.

Both uses express the wish that the recipient or wearer might return ‘like the boomerang’.
Our cute wee boomerang pendant featuring a stunning piece of Paua shell is sure to be treasured and returned to wear many times by whoever may purchase it.

Oblong Pendant

GP577/PO577

Our statement piece the Oblong stylises traditional Aboriginal art work of these indigenous Australian people.
Aboriginal art is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history, with Australian Aborigines having settled on the Australian continent somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago. Evidence of Aboriginal culture is found in the rock art, which so far has been dated back at least 20,000 years, while archaeology has dated ancient campsites back to 50,000 to 65,000 years.

From the beginning of time the Aborigines have told “Dreamtime” stories to each generation in order to keep their stories in their culture alive and to educate their people about their place on earth.
Stories are told about the stars, planets, the land, animals, “bush tucker” or food, hunting and ancestors through Aboriginal Art to help tell the stories of their history and culture.
The artwork on our beautiful Oblong pendant symbolises some of the native flora and fauna of the awe inspiring country of Australia. But you will agree with me when I say that this striking piece of jewellery could be inspired by any countries surroundings. A treasure to behold.