Rooster

...... or a rather large chicken.

Very early into Manchester for a presentation at a breakfast seminar, went OK.

In the foyer of the hotel, this bizarre sculpture, which an accompanying notice (in not very good english grammar) explained was a sculpture three years in the making, and called (obviously) Rooster. Artists - Lotus Arts de Vivre.

The basis is a piece of tree trunk from an Indonesian teak tree (I do hope it's from a sustainable source). The tail feathers are metal based, covered in 45,000 scarab scales (I do hope there are lots of scarab beetles around still !). The head is of fibreglass but then covered in Galluchat (stingray) leather (I am definitely not sure about this one at all). The beak and feet are sterling silver, as are the eyebrows (with red enamel embellishment).And the eyes are set with tiger-eye quartz - apparently. It sits on a granite base.

Apparently all good Chinese Feng-Shui, bringing good luck and warding off bad luck - but maybe not to beetles and stingrays.