Maori Jewelry
Paua Shell Wonderful Traditional Maori Jewelry
The beautiful Paua shell... It is a species of abalone (Haliotis iris). Found only in the seas around New Zealand, this marine mollusk eats seaweed and clings to rocks at depths of 1-10 meters, along the shoreline. Paua shell is the most colorful of all the abalone shells. Others pale in comparison. Colors vary from greens and pinks to purples and blues. Some even have gold or crimson toning. The colors change when viewed from different angles, with an iridescence similar to that of Mother of Pearl shell, but far more brilliantly colored.
The name Paua is the name given to this shell by Maori.
