Celebrating the wild and unique expressions of nephrite jade
The story of jade is a story about place, shared through the curves and creases of the ancient landscape we inhabit. After subduction, uplift and erosion, jade flows down rivers into our heart, giving form to the myriad expressions of nature. For millennia, jade has been shaped, carved, polished and admired by people around the world, renowned for its durability, feel and beauty. Today it remains a rich and varied subject, presenting unique expressions from sources around the world.
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Northern California is home to a number of jade bearing streams, creeks and rivers, and from these came the name Six Rivers Jade. Shifting with the rise and fall of mountain flows, jade can be found as it migrates from the mountains to the ocean, waiting for the moment when one journey ends and a new one begins.
Land Acknoledgement
I respectfully acknowledge that the land where I collect jade is the ancestral and sacred home of the indigenous peoples of this area. From time immemorial, Tolowa, Yurok, Karuk, Hupa, Wiyot, Wintu, Wailaki, Shasta and other native peoples have cultivated deep relationships with the rivers, mountains, and ecosystems of this region, honoring the interconnectedness of all life. My jade gathering practices aim to honor this history and the land itself through a sustainable, low-impact, and non-extractive approach. I gather a limited number of stones each year, engaging in a thoughtful and deep listening practice that reflects my respect for the enduring spirit and wisdom of these lands and their stewards.
A hand polished cobble of Six Rivers nephrite jade, presenting outstanding oxidized coloration. Photographed on a larger nephrite plate.
Mere carved from nephrite jade, sourced in the Klamath Watershed
20.5” long - Photographed sitting on a piece of “vulcan” or oxidized rind jade from the Klamath River
