“Freedom Is Not Free” (1 Of 1) – AECT250 (Not for Sale)

Freedom Is Not Free

Materials • Symbolism • Craftsmanship

The base and sculptural elements are carved from solid American woods, selected for density, grain integrity, and long-term structural stability. Each section was carved in the round, allowing the natural grain of the wood to follow the movement of the form — from feather to talon to cloud — enhancing both strength and realism.

The table is structurally reinforced with a hand-forged wrought iron armature, visible beneath the tabletop and engineered to create the illusion of balance and a floating wing effect while safely carrying significant weight. The iron framework remains intentionally subordinate to the carving, serving the structure without overpowering the sculpture.

The tabletop surface is framed with hand-carved detailing and crowned with a 3/4-inch solid granite stone, selected for permanence and stability. The wood surfaces are finished through multiple hand-rubbed stages, protecting the material while preserving its natural warmth, depth, and character.

The companion sculpture, "Soldier’s Cross", is cast in solid bronze, a material historically reserved for memorials and monuments intended to endure for centuries.

Selective 24kt Gold Gilding         

The American Eagle is accented with selective 24-karat solid gold leaf gilding, applied by hand using traditional gilding techniques. The gold is intentionally restrained and symbolic, not ornamental.

Rather than covering the entire form, the gilding is limited to key elements of meaning — including select areas of the beak, eyes, talons, and highlighted feather edges — allowing the gold to act as light rather than surface. This approach preserves the authority and integrity of the carved wood while introducing moments of reflection that reveal themselves as the viewer moves around the piece.

The selective gilding symbolizes clarity, vigilance, and the enduring value of liberty, emphasizing responsibility over excess. It reflects the principle that freedom is precious not because it is displayed, but because it is earned, protected, and upheld.

Symbolism

At the center of the piece, the American Eagle emerges from carved clouds, wings spread in a posture of vigilance rather than aggression. The eagle’s talons grip the clouds firmly, symbolizing freedom not as an abstraction, but as something held, defended, and sustained.

The detailed feather work reflects individual effort united into collective strength—each feather carved separately, yet forming a single, resolute form. The eagle’s forward, alert gaze represents a nation mindful of its past and watchful over its future.

Resting above, the "Soldier’s Cross" honors those who gave their lives in service to that freedom. Together, the table and bronze create a single narrative: liberty upheld by sacrifice.

Craftsmanship

Every element of this piece was executed using apprentice-to-master techniques preserved through more than 110 years of continuous American craftsmanship, supervised by Master Builder H.J. Nick.

No CNC machining, shortcuts, veneers, or mass-production methods were used. Tool marks are intentionally respected, not erased. The subtle variations in carving and grain are the fingerprints of the human hand — evidence of time, discipline, and mastery.

Enduring Purpose

"Freedom Is Not Free" was created not merely as furniture, but as a lasting American artifact — built to endure generations and to remind all who encounter it that freedom is not inherited automatically, but maintained through work, service, sacrifice, and honor.

The piece was entirely hand-built and hand-carved...

...by classically trained master craftsmen at ArtFactory.com, employing traditional methods rooted in historic American and European craft disciplines. Every phase of its creation was personally supervised
and approved by H. J. Nick to ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship, integrity, and purpose.

Paired with Laran Ghiglieri’s bronze sculpture “Soldier’s Cross,” the work stands as a solemn tribute to the men and women who have served—and continue to serve—in defense of the United States. Together, these elements express the enduring truth that the freedoms enjoyed by the American people
are preserved through sacrifice.

This work...

...is respectfully presented as a gift in honor of our “Peace Through Strength” to President Donald J. Trump and the American people, as a lasting testament to American-made craftsmanship, national pride, and the principle that freedom is never free.