In 1993 we made a trip to China, visiting amongst others Hetian in Xinjiang to prospect for jade in the Black and the White Jade Rivers. On our return trip we flew to Shanghai and spent some hours on the antique’s street Dong Tai Lu where a gentleman showed us some very fine jade carvings. On special request our guide took us to a jade carving studio that evening where, to our surprise we met the same gentleman. We acquired from him this exceptionally fine pure white Hetian jade miniature of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, and some other carvings. Years later we found out that we had visited the studio of the now famous Shanghai jade master carver, Ni Wei Bin (Born 1958). Mr Ni established the Jade-carving Workshop 'Shanghai Ya Yuan Yu Diao' in 1985. He has been awarded the title of 'China Jade Carving Master' in 2004. The miniature Guanyin bears his signature on the bottom. Height 4.1 cm. Width 2.0 cm. Depth 1.9 cm. Weight 16.5 grams.