Orca Sculpture

Michael Binkley carved this original fine art stone sculpture of a orca killer whale from a variety of marble from La Spezia, Italy, called portoro macchia. Binkley mounted the orca on a base of glass with a special edge to catch the light and to emulate splashing water. Binkley has carved the orca as if it were catching a breath of air at the surface of the ocean before it dives back down into the depths. The prominent dorsal fin is tall and straight, indicating it is a mature bull. Female orcas have a more curved, sabre-like dorsal fin. Portoro macchia is Italian for “carrying stain” and refers to the gold-like flames of striations that run through the midnight black marble. This colouration is actually an oxidization and not really gold. However, the stone is very elegant and has been used extensively as a symbol of power in architecture and utilitarian objects. It has been used for counters in banks, as fireplace surrounds in mansions, and for ladies consoles as well as for executive pen set bases. The quarry in Italy has run dry, so this marble is quickly becoming rare to find. *NOTE* Due to the large scale of this sculpture, packaging of this sculpture for shipment will be an extra cost. Please contact SaatchiArt for more information.