The old rare stone is called Pietra Leccese, a beautiful limestone found only in a small area in southern Italy. It is formed from the accumulation of many layers over millions of years and contains shell, coral and algae fossils. This can cause the creation of different shades of white to be seen. The stone is not treated or manipulated, but carved in its beautiful raw state so that the finished sculpture can be rich, which may appear like unsightly white/grey lines or stains, but these are in reality valuable fossils. Colour variations, the presence of small fossils and any smaller carving imperfections guarantee that no 2 pieces are the same. This is not a plaster conveyor belt from Paris made in China. This is a piece of Italian history, heritage and beauty. The discolouration in the stone is a proof of the history and authenticity of the stone. Minor imperfections tell you that it was entirely handmade. Each animal symbolises something different, which means it makes a thoughtful gift for so many different occasions. Each animal is beautifully packaged in an elegant black gift box containing the stone background and English and Italian statements that highlight that creation was entirely handmade in Italy. We have a beautiful message card so you can write in your own words what you want to say with this unique creation. And another that contains the map of Italy. So we want to demonstrate you where the animal is "born". Inside the gift box, the creation is beautifully presented in a cellophane bag and then protected by coloured torn paper. Please note that photos are for reference only. Each item is handmade, so there may be slight differences in colour and size.