AMBER FISH
Amber can be a frustrating material. Very often the good colour is only skin deep, the interior being of a much paler hue. As a result all the colour can be lost during carving.
Consequently I dared not use this wonderfully dark piece of material until I had an idea which did not require deep carving. Even then it took a year or so before I plucked up the courage. With very careful carving I have preserved the colour, but none of my photographic skills can even approximate the clarity of the material. I lit both images from the back but, as the fish is curved, the lens effect only worked from one side.
With eyes inlaid in a paler amber using the 'eyes follow' technique, the carving is 2.5" (6.25cm) long. The himotoshi is formed beside the lower part of the tail fin. The signature is engraved underneath.