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Miniature golden dragon created to celebrate Lunar New Year

Tiny golden dragon sculpture next to a matchstickImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

This miniature sculpture was made out of a piece of gold smaller than the head of a matchstick

Check out this teeny tiny sculpture created to celebrate the Year of the Dragon for Lunar New Year.

This hand-crafted red-eyed dragon was made from a single piece of gold smaller than the head of a matchstick.

Renowned micro-sculptor Willard Wigan from Birmingham was the artist behind this miniscule creation and it took four months to complete.

He said he created it as "a symbol of strength, resilience and determination."

More of Willard Wigan's tiny masterpieces

Image source, PA Media

Willard Wigan used hardened steel to shape the intricate waves and says it was "the hardest thing I've ever done."

He said he had to control his breathing while he worked or he could have ruined it.

"I will never attempt that again because it was a nightmare to do," he explained. "It took me four months of hard work trying to get it right because I failed a few times.

"To me, that's like climbing to the top of the mountain and then climbing up again."

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Willard Wigan admiring his creation - if he can see it that is!

Willard continued: "I started to cut the shape of the dragon out and this is not using any photographs whatsoever. This is just me working from my mind."

He hopes his piece will remind people of the value of handmade creations.

"Let people understand what the human spirit is capable of doing by hand," he said.