A beautiful natural wood mixed-media Sculpture made from an historic 100+ year old Chase County Kansas Osage Orange (Hedge) Fence Post top, Walnut, and brass. Throughout my travels by vehicle and by foot, I collect interesting and unique items to build into one of a kind sculptures. The sculpture has been designed to show off the natural God-created beauty of the special item, in color, shape, and texture, providing an interesting conversation piece for any home or office interior. As the Kansas Flint Hills were homesteaded in the middle 1850's, piled rock was first used to make fences owing to the lack of trees or other materials. Osage Orange was introduced as a fast growing, impenetrable thorny hedge row for cattle fencing. After the invention of barbed wire, the hedge rows were replaced with barb wire fences, built out of the same hedge trees. Over a Century later, these hedge row fence posts are quickly being replaced by T-metal posts, and the hedge is burned or otherwise discarded. I've made it my personal mission to salvage and save a piece of Kansas History by finding unique ways to use this discarded historic wood. Furniture, lamps, desk items, and when something truly special is discovered, I turn it one-of-a kind sculpture pieces. These sculptures are a unique way to display the natural-worn beauty of this wood. I hope you will enjoy the appearance as well as the history.--------------------------Serial Number: #2012-08Overall Dimensions: 14"t x 4.5"w x 4.5"d--------------------------Each of my Unique Natural Wood Sculptures feature a serial number and my signature engraved.You can also see my website at www.decoustudio.com---------------------------SHIPPING SCHEDULE:This item is finished, and will ship within a day or two of your purchase with confirmed payment.Commissioned pieces (special order) are running about 18-24 months on delivery. ---------------------------SHIPPING COSTS:I ship art and craft items to customers across the United States, and many international locations, and it is increasingly hard to predict the actual shipping costs. I have tried to include the cost of shipping to cover most people, but really it is just a guess until I actually hand the package across the counter to the shipping clerk.If the shipping cost listed on your purchase seems too high to be reasonable, don't forget that once the package ships, if you have paid more than I need to cover the cost, I will refund the difference to you through Paypal, or to your credit card however you have paid, after I know the exact amount. The need for a shipping refund can be especially true if you have ordered multiple items and the combined individual shipping cost calculation is higher than what it will actually be when I put all of the items in one box. But, don't worry, your final shipping price will be the actual cost of the postage and insurance.SHIPPING INSURANCE:For many places in the World, I can not buy enough postage insurance on any particular package to cover the cost of the contents should it get lost, or stolen while in transit. In particular, Mexico and Eastern Europe are deemed worrisome by the United States Postal system. I will insure your package for the full replacement cost if I can, and if not, I'll get you as much insurance as I can toward the actual value.If a package is lost by the postal carrier, I will send you whatever the insurance payment is, after I receive the payment. Unfortunately, if I am unable to insure the full replacement cost, you'll only receive what insurance value I could purchase for you. Filing a Claim, and getting payment is about a 3-6 month adventure if it happens, so you'll have to be patient with UPS or the USPS if your package isn't delivered.For all USA orders, and most International orders, I am able to fully insure the item for loss or damage. If the item is lost, I can not replace it exactly, but since I build everything I sell myself, I most likely can make a similar copy of it.In all of the years I have shipped packages, only one time did UPS lose a package, and never has one gotten lost by USPS, but you do need to be aware of the risks, especially to foreign Countries that are deemed risky by the shipping company. Some Countries are deemed so risky by the USPS, that they will not insure the package at all. I'm sorry if this causes you concern, my other option is to accept USA only orders.Thanks for looking,Mark DeCou