Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is considered the father of modern science and made major contributions to the fields of physics, astronomy, cosmology, mathematics and philosophy. This figure, by Veronese, is one of the finest pieces of casting I have ever seen. From the actual writings and diagrams in front of him, to his quill and ink jar. Even his globe is wonderfully detailed. Look closely at the fringe at the bottoms of his table covers. Immaculate!
I’ve used a nice specimen of Selenite, from Morocco, for his observation deck. I  hand cut and attached  steps to the main structure which takes him to the landing. I reworked some aluminum posts, added an imitation pearl sphere to each, and fastened one to each step. I’ve added a protective railing around the top of his space to provide a measure of safety to his rather confined area.
The Selenite has been drilled through the bottom center, which allowed me to place a light inside which, when lit, creates another whole new dimension to the piece. I then hand cut and finished a slice of a hardwood, Corymbia Opaca, or Bloodwood, from Australia, for the base. The bottom is covered with heavy felt to protect furniture.