NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Nyoman Karsa captures the majesty of the mountain goat in a pair of exquisite bookend sculptures. Carved from Balinese suar wood, the animals boast the long, curving horns of a mature male. Intelligent eyes gaze from the slender face that arises from a strong, powerful neck. Artisan Info: "This has been such a great year for me, thanks to people from many different countries. Thanks for submitting so many testimonials about my work. May this year bring you all the happiness and good fortune that you have brought to my family. "My name is Nyoman Karsa and I was born on December 31, 1967. I learned woodcarving from my father and the senior artists of my village, for example, the famous Wayan Winten. I have worked in my own art studio and shop since 1987. "I usually carve sculptures from ebony, suar, crocodile, and hibiscus woods. Each of the woods has specific characteristics of color, durability, and aroma. Ebony comes from Sulawesi, while the others grow locally. Mass media and the everyday traditional lifestyle of our environment and community are the sources of my inspiration. Some of my pieces deal with traditional dances, the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, sports, animals, and abstract figures. "When creating a sculpture, I first see it in my mind, making an image
