'SELF PORTRAIT': 2008/2009
Carved Sperm Whale tooth.
4.5cms wide 12.5cms long x 4cms deep

£400 (UK delivery £5)

This is a 'self portrait'. The running spiral decoration starts with the four mathematical processing symbols (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication) followed by the alphabet and the ten numerical digits. My name follows with the date 2008 (when I completed my half century of life and started the piece). There is also a running spiral 'celtic' type decoration. The capping decoration shows the main geometric shapes of circle, triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon. The top of the tooth bears the inscription 'ART IS A NECESSITY'.

The urge to decorate natural materials is a fundamental, and defining, human characteristic. It is not just about expression but about underlining the reality of our place in nature. There is a reverence for the material and a desire to leave some trace of existence and the very mystery of life. This took many many hours to complete.

www.nigelbridges.com