Romancing the Stone

Art collecting is: "A passion pursued with discipline and Science is a discipline pursued by passion."
~Arther Sackler - scientist and art collector

Collecting goldfish artifacts is another addiction introduced to me by my good friend and mentor, Alvin Lim.

Recently, I got hold of a piece of Chinese stone seal artifact with a refine goldfish carving and an auspicious wording - 金玉滿堂 - literally means "a hall full of gold and jade". 金玉滿堂 is also a common wish phrase for prosperity in the Lunar New Year.

The Chinese pronunciation of goldfish - 金魚 (Jin Yu) sounds like 金玉 (gold and jade). As such, goldfish is frequently used as the subject together with designs of Lunar New Year cards, lanterns and red packets. This carving is the masterpiece of Master Chen from Fujian province who took years to master this art.