These are beautiful hand carved works of art created by well known Ecuadorian artists. They are elegant figurines made from marzipan that you will treasure as a collector's item for years to come.

This one is a set of six different adorable musical figurines. As you can see in the pictures, these are intricate pieces whose designs are fun and imaginative. They are made by the Rosa Cadena Ecuadorian family of artisans from a mixture of marzipan dough and special preservatives that provide firmness, durability, and resistance to insects. The colors are created through both food coloring in the dough and hand painting of the sculptured figurines. Each figurine is more that 3 inches tall and 1 1/4 inches wide at the base and all six are shipped tightly wrapped in tissue in a firm cardboard box placed securely inside a corrugated shipping box. Colors may vary slightly from the pictures shown. Why pay inflated name brand prices? The comparable retail gallery price is $100.00 but your normal price is only $59.95 while this Limited Time Special 60% Off is only $29.95.

In case you did not know, marzipan is an international confection (although these figurines are not made to be eaten). As early as 1800 B.C. the Egyptians made marzipan dough from crushed almonds and honey. According to legend, marzipan was so valued in the early Nile River villages that it was used for trade as coins called Marchpans. It was prized by the Emperors of Rome and became an important part of Italy's culinary heritage. The Crusaders carried it back to their homeland and during the Dark Ages it was made by nuns in France. During the Renaissance, the Kings of France cherished it as a delicacy, baking it into small cookies called Massepains. The Spanish Armada brought it back from the East while the Conquistadors carried it on to South America where Roman Catholics still use it to make special bread dolls for All Souls Day. In Elizabethan England it was popular among the elite and dubbed Saint Marks Pan. The Swiss covered it in chocolate, the Danish fashioned pink pigs for good luck and the Germans used it to decorate their Christmas trees.  Many cultures still carry on these traditions today.

This is quality merchandise at a great price. The only problem is that it is made in and shipped from Ecuador, a small country in South America, so shipping time and if necessary returns are longer than usual. We ship via Postal Services within 24 hours of purchase, 6 days a week, and normal delivery time is 10 to 21 days.