A sea turtle rises out of a piece of raw, untreated wood, as if swimming up to the surface. Its flippers and the pattern of its shell were carved by hand, while the base was left as the wood grew. It was made in Indonesia from parasite wood. The piece is about 8 cm tall and needs roughly 12 × 12 cm of space. You receive one carved turtle.
What the turtle is said to mean
Many cultures see the turtle as a sign of good luck, perseverance and calm wisdom. Sea turtles are certainly persistent, swimming huge distances in their lifetime between feeding grounds and the beaches where they lay their eggs.
Bends and patches in the wood
As the name suggests, parasite wood comes from a plant that grows on another tree and feeds off it. It grows unpredictably, so each piece has its own bends, darker patches and rough edges. The carver fits the turtle to the shape of the wood, so no two are identical, and yours will be similar to, but not quite the same as, the one in the photos.
Small enough for a windowsill
It fits on a bookshelf, a desk, a bedside table or a windowsill. If you keep seashells or pebbles from seaside holidays, it sits nicely among them. Low and wide, about 8 cm tall and 12 cm long, it lets you see the whole turtle from above. A good gift for anyone fond of turtles or hand-carved wooden things.
Use a soft brush for dusting and keep water away from the raw wood. Avoid radiators and strong sun, which dry the wood out.