A large hand-cast bronze carp sculpture is still waiting for the right spot at the Seattle Chinese Garden (SCG) where it has been since the end of February. Donated by Nicholas and Marlene Zefferys to the Garden two years ago, the sculpture was moved from a Renton storage facility.

In a post on the SCG blog Elisabeth Hattemer writes:

"The Chinese name is "li yu," (鯉魚). "魚" in Chinese means surplus, or abundance, which implies being rich and always having extras. During the new year eve banquet, we always serve fish as the last course but do not touch it. Saving it to the next year indicates we'll have a lucky and abundant new year," explains Stella Chien, who came to take a peek at the beauty within the crate and help speculate about how and where to showcase this beautiful work of art."

Donor Marlene Zefferys purchased the fish in Chiang Mai. She kept the fish in Chiang Mai until she shipped it to Seattle about 8 years ago.

According to records kept in the Garden, this is the story she was told at the time of purchase:
The fish was hand cast in early 20th century in Ayutthaya, Thailand. It was being made to be sent to a general in China as a gift. By the time they got it to China, the general had died, so they brought it back to Chiang Mai. There it was purchased by a wealthy Thai who kept it in his garden for many years. When the Thai man died, his wife sold it to an antique dealer in Chiang Mai from whom Marlene Zefferys purchased it."

Visit the SCG blog to see more photos: http://blog.seattlechinesegarden.org/2012/02/mysterious-carp-in-garden…