The piece was inspired by a combined love of Japan and Koi fish and has been exhibited at the Christchurch And District Arts Council exhibition at the Hayloft Gallery in Christchurch, Dorset, and at Creative Glass, Bristol.
In the springtime, in Niigata on the island of Honshu in Japan (famous for Koi fish rearing), the finest breeders of this ornamental breed of carp begin rearing Koi using the calcium rich bentonite clays which have the perfect properties for rearing award winning specimens.

It was handmade from float glass was carved (using kiln-proof fibre paper) before being fired, and then gilded using three layers of 24 carat gold leaf and then framed in a handmade black matt wooden frame.
The piece measures 20" x 8" x 1" (510 x 200 x 25mm)
Kilncarving is a term to describe a process that achieves a bas relief, textured, or sculpted look in glass by firing in a kiln. The process involves cutting a pattern or design in fibre paper or board, then stacking glass on top of the pattern and firing the piece in a kiln. During firing, the underside of the glass conforms to the pattern on the fibre paper or board assuming its contours and textures.
This piece uses float glass, which is another term for window glass, and has been gilded using pieces of 24ct Gold leaf using an ancient process known as water gilding. Water and a vegetarian gelatine solution is applied to the glass and the gold leaf is applied by hand several layers thick and then sealed with clear enamel to provide protection and longevity. The effect is to produce a bright, mirror-like finish which will last indefinitely.

 

It was recently sold to a collector.

 

This piece varies from the one below in that the glass was carved from underneath (i.e. the fibre paper was placed underneath the float glass and the glass allowed to shape over the paper) but is identical in size.

The 2x panels in the kiln - the white kiln fibre shapes are placed under the sheets of 6mm thick float glass

Front View