The basis for these three designs is the Maori Kowhaiwhai pattern. The design is simple and clean. These three pieces look great hung together as a set or displayed on a shelf.

“The Maori people brought a culture, which included Kowhaiwhai patterns, from Polynesia hundreds of years ago. The oldest known Kowhaiwhai are the patterns painted on the canoe paddles. In pre-European times, the war canoe was viewed as the main symbol of tribal identity, unity and pride. Then as the use of canoes declined, Kowhaiwhai developed to become part of the design of meeting houses, the new symbol of pride. This is most often found on the ridgepole (tahu) or rafters (heke) in great meeting houses (Wharenui). Kowhaiwhai is Maori history as recorded by Maori”. www.Wikispaces.com