Rare bronze, desk-top sculpture by artist John Raimondi. Limited edition signed and marked 7/10. Measures 18" high x 4" deep x 26" wide. Circa 1970s. Biography: Originally intending to become a seascape painter, Raimondi first attended Vesper George School of Art and subsequently attended the Portland School of Fine and Applied Arts in Maine (now Maine College of Art). There he met teacher and sculptor Norman Therrien who encouraged Raimondi to try sculpture. Next, Raimondi attended the Massachusetts College of Art where he studied sculpture and graduated in 1973. He exhibited early works at Boston City Hall, Bridgewater State University, and numerous local galleries and museums. This led to Raimondi's first prominent commission, awarded to him in a national competition conducted by the I-80 Bicentennial Sculpture Project, in Nebraska. This sculpture, entitled Erma's Desire, is named for the artist's mother and her intense desire for the happiness of her children. Located in Grand Island, Nebraska, the work was considered controversial due to its suggestive title and abstract form. It was debated fiercely in several major publications and on the TV news program "60 Minutes," catapulting Raimondi into the national spotlight. Since then, Raimondi has completed more than 100 monumental sculptures for public, corporate, and private collections worldwide.