Latest in the line of gods, goddesses, heroes, and villians from Welsh Celtic mythology comes this incredible double sided statue of the twin brothers, Nisien and Efnysien who appear in the second branch of The Mabinogi.

Nisien (also spelled Nysien) is the most gentle and cordial of souls, who can bring peace to even the most intensely warring factions, whereas his brother, Efynsien (also spelled Efnisien) is the exact opposite; being sure to stir up conflict and anger among the most peacful of gatherings.

Efnysien is the protagonist who kicks off an unfortunate chain of events by mutilating the horses of Matholwch (the king of Ireland) quartered in the 'Island of The Mighty' in preparation for his wedding to Efnysien's half-sister, Branwen. The wedding was proposed by various noblemen in an attempt to unify the countries of Ireland and Wales, which had been in a state of conflict for as long as anyone could remember.

"No one asked me !", cried Efnysien, who proceeded to cut the horses' lips, eyelids, and tails to the bone, maiming them and rendering them useless; a great insult to the Irish.

After much negotiation and offers of recompense, including the gift of a caudron which can bring the dead back to life, a fragile peace is restored and the wedding goes ahead. Unfortunately the plans for unification go awry when the Irish begin to sorely mistreat Branwen following the birth of her child, Gwern.

When news of her plight reaches Bran, he musters the armies of the Island of The Mighty and sets off across the sea to rescue his sister. The retreating Irish sue for peace, offering to invest Gwern as furture king and to build a hall big enough to house Bran.

Although Bran agrees, the Irish set a trap by hiding fully armed warriors in a hundred flour sacks hung on the posts of the hall. "What's in this sack, friend?" asks Efnysien... "nothing but flour, my Lord" comes the reply... Efnysien feels the outside of the sack, and finding the head of the warrior inside, he proceeds to crush his skull between his hands.

Proceeding to the next sack, he askes the same question, gets the same answer and bestows the same fate upon the warrior hidden within... lather, rinse, repeat.

Believing the trap to be foiled, the investiture of Gwern proceeds, but when he goes to be embraced by his uncle, Efnysien throws him into the fire instead.

All hell breaks loose and a mighty battle ensues. For a time the Welsh have an advantage, but then the Irish start throwing the bodies of their slain warriors into the cauldron which brings them back to life (albeit without the ability to speak).

Seeing the mounting losses, and perhaps remorseful for the bloodshed he has caused, Efnysien hides among the bodies of the fallen Irish and is thrown into the cauldron. He stretches out with all his might and breaks the cauldron assunder, sacrificing himself in the process.

Perhaps as much an insight into the fragility and vagaries of the human psyche, this story serves not only to teach us of the senseless futility of war, but also to reminds that we are all just a single heartbeat away from being either Nisien or Efynisien.

This stunning piece, envisioned by Lisa, and sculpted by the incredibly talented Joe Laudati, stands a little over 11" tall.

Each statue is individually hand-cast, finished, painted, signed and number by the artist.