Novica.com Artisans Post 20,000th Handmade Sculpture

Los Angeles, CA, July 2, 2007 — Novica.com, a major online handcrafts marketplace, today posted for sale its 20,000th sculpture, a significant milestone for the National Geographic-associated company.

Since Novica launched in 1999, it has become the most-visited website of its kind, featuring the biographies, portraits, and handmade sculptures, carvings, home decor, jewelry, apparel, and original paintings of more than 2,000 master artisans in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The 20,000th handmade sculpture was posted by master artisan Wayan Rendah in Bali. Rendah is one of hundreds of master sculptors featured on the Novica website, and ranks among its most popular master carvers.

"It gives me great pleasure when one of my sculptures inspires somebody," Rendah commented, adding, "I am very grateful for this, because this is my strongest desire: to be able to create and share the ideas I have and support my family."

Rendah's elaborate carving "Rama and Sita in Exile" marked the 20,000th handmade sculpture to be offered for sale at Novica over the past eight years.

In celebration, Novica launched a new sculpture page located at http://sculpture.novica.com

About Novica.com: Novica.com, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans around the world. Novica's mission is to provide opportunities for artists and to actively preserve traditional cultures and skills. Purchases directly benefit artisans in the developing world.

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