Stone
The stone is an Agate, sourced in Idar-Oberstein but I assume it’s from Brasil. It has bluish violet parts on the outside, is light grey to white on the inside and has a coloured yellow to orange and red tending part of the outer rind on it. The stone was an offcut from a bigger piece. It sits on another piece of stone, serving as a pedestal made from a Falcon’s Eye with a slight chatoyance effect. The Eye of the Koi is made of Australian Black Jade.

Design
The Koi species stood model for the stone, a detailed interpretation of anatomic attributes of a Koi: It shows dorsal-, pectoral-, ventral-, anal- and caudal fins together with gills, scales, barbels and nostrils, that are characteristic for this species. Koi can be quite colourful, a hint of what is found on the golden upper fins. Waves wash around the body, from a back view only the fins are sticking out of the water and the rest of the Koi is not visible.

Inspiration
The Agate offcut didn’t inspire me at first sight. I had to look twice but then it became quite obvious: a Koi emerged from the dull, unworked surface of the stone like a beautiful spirit in murky waters. I had to save him, scrape him off, wash and clean him and now look how he came out. I didn’t even have to dig very deep into the hard stone, just shaped the edges and corners a little bit and it started to blind me with its brilliance.
Koi symbolize strength, prosperity and destiny fulfillment through perseverance. Much like Samurai warriors it is said that when they get caught they face the sword by lying still and accepting death with courage.