The carp’s inherent hardiness lent itself well to the domestic propagation of ‘koi’ worldwide—its bright, mottled color mutations both natural and the result of careful breeding, first in China, then, and perhaps most notably, in the Niigata prefecture of Japan. More correctly defined as ‘nishikigoi’ in Japan, the colorful koi we know today were first brought to the world stage in 1914 during the Taisho Exposition in Toyko; the keeping of koi since becoming a popular hobby, the image of the koi itself becoming a symbol of love and tranquility.

Guy’s latest carving, “Tranquil Koi”, features a graceful koi swimming past a water lily. Like all of Guy’s carvings, this piece is carved into beautiful imported quartzite stone, accented with pigments, and hangs from stained bamboo, bound with high-quality hemp. The back of the carving features a history of the design and a short artist bio. The piece is also signed and dated by the artist.