Handmade Marble Sculpture, 'Proud Eagle' (Nicaragua)

Sculpted from marmolina, an eagle perches on a stone. Oscar Enrique Casco depicts the powerful bird in stone. "This is a beautiful creature that inspires pride," the Nicaraguan artisan says.

Product features:

• Dimension - 10.5" H x 8.25" W x 5" D
• Weight - 6.41 LBS
• Color - Grey
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• Made in Nicaragua

Story behind the art:

Novica friends, it's a pleasure to introduce myself. I'm Oscar Enrique Casco and I'm a sculptor. I work in stone and wood.I was born in Nicaragua in 1975, in a town named Estelí, San Juan de Limay. My childhood was focused on learning a craft and putting it into practice. As a boy, I had to drop out of school and I learned the art of sculpture in wood and marmolina, a reconstituted stone. This art has served me well and I've had very good results, very positive ones. I'm proud of them.My uncle began teaching me when I was nine years old. My first pieces were small but, as I gained experience and skill, I was able to create larger and more complicated sculptures. I learned that the best way for a person to learn is to be disciplined, to study and practice with dedication. Most important you should love what you do. Today, I'm teaching this art to my children and others from the community and elsewhere who visit my workshop.Some of my designs are exclusive and I feel they represent my country. I find inspiration in my love of God, in nature, my family and also my love of art. It's so gratifying when shoppers tell me which designs they like and where in their homes they plan to place them.I buy my materials, and we carve them in the family workshop. Sometimes we need to bring in assistants to help fill large orders. I do the sculpting but I'm teaching my children. My son enjoys packing so he packs the most difficult pieces. We share the other tasks among us.My workshop presents a good image of the community, because there are very few left in Nicaragua that are dedicated to this art. We also provide jobs to young people who like their country's handicrafts.I'm so proud and happy to be able to work with Novica and show our art to the whole world. Thanks to all of you for your support.