Fishaye Trading Company

Fishaye Trading Company

Based out of Natick, MA, Fishaye Trading Company prepares wall art and various home goods that feature a unique art form known as Gyotaku. John F. Doherty, the artist and owner, puts his love of fishing to use as you’ve never seen before.

Fishaye Trading Company

via Fishaye Trading Company

Fishaye Trading Company

Nautical Driftwood Trays

Pronounced “Gyo (fish) -Taku (imaging)”, the process originates in Japan and dates back to the early 1800s. Initially used as a way for fishermen to record their catches, Gyotaku soon generated a following of those pleased by the prints’ visuals, including Doherty himself.
“I was taking fish off the deck of my boat and one of them had bled out of the gills. When I lifted it up there was an imprint of the fish,” Doherty told us.
“It was perfect!”

Fishaye Trading Company Fishaye Trading Company

via Fishaye Trading Company

As time passed, the artist found himself printing his self-caught fish onto products such as canvases, bowls, placemats, trays, and more to sell to his community and retailers, including here at Port Plums.
FishAye was one of the first company's carried at our store when we first opened, and the products continue to be well loved and admired by
our customers and staff alike.

Fishaye Trading Company Fishaye Trading Company

Nautical Vinyl Placemats (Top), Melamine Nautical Serving Trays (Bottom)

From going out and catching the fish, to selecting the paint, and actually eating the fish afterward, the authenticity behind the process brings life to each product.
He even marks each product with a Chinese character to correlate them with a mood unique to the day that fish was caught. “I thought those would be pretty cool because the whole process started in that part of the world,” he recalled when describing a previous boating trip he had taken around the world with his wife.
“If I caught a fish at night, I could use the character for ‘moon’.
Or, if the fish put up a really good fight, maybe I use ‘spirit.’”

The care behind each print make you appreciate the work just as much, which is why we’re proud to offer Doherty’s artwork here in-store and online!

Fishaye Trading Company

Whether it be for a friend, loved one, or even yourself, the exclusive artwork makes a meaningful gift for those who truly appreciate coastal living.
Come by our store and see his selection of trays and placemats for yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Maggie Griffin (unless otherwise noted)

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