The carved oval bowl decorated with indigenous geometric design above a bird mosaic with abalone eyes at the peak; raised on a stand. Overall 8 x 4 1/2 x 7 1/4 in.Note: Maori are the tangata whenua, the indigenous people, of New Zealand. They discovered New Zealand more than 1,000 years ago from their Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. The Ta moko is a Maori Tattoo which is a unique expression of cultural heritage and identity. It reflects the individual's whakapapa (ancestry) and personal history. In earlier times it was an important signifier of social rank, knowledge, skill and eligibility to marry. A Moko is the practice of scarring and marking of the skin to reflect the genealogy of the Maori wearer. Moko can be sees as a cultural affirmation. A tattoo is the English version of the Tahitian word tatu" and is the tradition marking of the skin with ink and needles. According to legend, the tattoos would take days to execute, the feeding funnel provided nourishment for the sitter."