This Swiss Black Forest Lion of Lucerne Walnut Carving was originally carved by Peter Wikz of Lucerne, Switzerland. This emotional carving is modeled after the stone sculpture designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorwaldsen and executed by Lukas Ahorn in 1821 in Lucerne. This sculpture commemorates the Swiss Guard in Paris who fell in 1792 protecting the French Royal Family. "Helvetiorum Fidei Ac Virtuti" translates to mean, "To the Loyalty and Bravery of the Swiss."