Paua craft = A ngā paua / Malcolm McCrea.

Includes index.

Over 50 full colour photos present intricate pendant designs hand-crafted from New Zealand Paua Shell accompanied by practical advice on the equipment and methods required to hand-craft objects made from this beautiful, naturally-occurring material. The author dips into a rich store of Maori symbology and traditional iconography, touching on the significance of designs such as dolphins, whales and whale flukes, cats and dogs, other native animals, the koru, the silver fern, fish-hooks, circles and some astrological and religious signs. Interesting information on the biology of several paua species, differing shell grades, restrictions on collecting and the traditional use of paua shell complement valuable advice on conceptual designs for pendants and jewellery, working with hand-tools and power-tools, vital safety issues, buying and selling paua and New Zealand paua shell suppliers.