This beautifully crafted Taniwha was carved by Dean Hetherington to represent a protector and guardian spirit. Wrought from a beautiful Chinese Jade which is nearly white in colour the piece shows differing finishes, with satin in the body of the piece changing to more polished stone on the tail. The Jade is known for its exceptional hardness and great skill and patience has been applied to bring this taonga into being.
Taniwha- in Te ao Maori, the Taniwha can have many meanings from protector to monster, depending on the area and tradition being discussed. Usually they are beings which live in rivers, caves or the sea - and particularly in places where there are dangerous currents or waves. Often they are esteemed as Kaitiaki, or protective guardians of places and of people, and treated with great respect.
Hotan River Jade/Hetian Jade- is a type of Nephrite Jade (as is NZ Greenstone) mined in the Kunlun Mountains in the Xinjiang region in Northwest China. It is know for its exceptional hardness and durability and can be found in colours such as white, green, yellow, brown, and black.
Hand Carved by Dean Hetherington
Size 56mm long x 30mm wide x 14mm thick
This will be the exact piece you will receive in the photos. There may be a slight degree of colour variation based on different computer or device screen resolutions that you are viewing from.
