Curling Carp Fish Relief

A single fish caught mid-turn in flowing relief. M 331 is a stylised carp curled into a soft oval — its body a set of sweeping S-curves, the tail fanning out low and to the left, fins flaring like ribbons, a round eye set high, and a raised swirl marking the gill and cheek. Rather than realistic scales, it is all rhythm and line: the kind of clean, decorative fish you would expect on Asian-inspired panelling or a nautical feature piece. Despite the tags suggesting a geometric pattern, this is emphatically a fish, and it reads beautifully as a relief carving. Cut and print notes • Perfect for CNC relief in wood: rough with a ball-nose, then finish the flowing grooves with a fine tapered bit so the fins keep their crisp ridges. • Keep the relief shallow-to-medium; the charm lies in smooth, sanded curves catching side light, so finish carefully and raking-light test as you go. • It also makes a great resin or FDM wall tile — orient face-up, slow the top layers, and mount it on a contrasting backer board. • Stain or paint to taste: a warm timber tone suits a kitchen or study, while a koi-orange wash turns it into a lively feature. Strong as a standalone plaque, a cabinet-door insert, or one of a shoaling set if you carve several — a calm, characterful motif for anyone drawn to water themes.