Look closely and you will discover that Johnny Barnes was actually made in Italy, or at least his latest statue is.

Washington Mall store Made in Italy is now selling alabaster statues of the popular Island figure.

Store manager Clara Moro said: "The inspiration for creating a statue of Johnny Barnes was the fact that he is a symbol of Bermuda. It is a tribute to him as it is his classic pose."

Mr. Barnes summed up his feelings for the statue in a word: "Beautiful."

"I try not to be popular," he added, before thanking God for the statue. He took one of the painterd versions home.

The statues of Mr. Barnes have only been in stock for a week but have already sold and are proving popular with locals and visitors alike.

The statues have a travertine base and are available painted or plain, for $100 or $60 respectively, and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Made in Italy specialises in handmade Italian pottery and marble and granite products. It has its own workshop which focusses on the installing of marble or granite countertops.

Custom orders for almost anything can also be made.

Ms Moro said the store had experienced a bit of a slowdown in the past few months, but the installation business meant the store was not dependant solely on retail sales.