I believe it was made in around 1995. The Mr. Sandman Sand Castles are made from real sand. It is more delicate than stone, but less delicate than glass. The castle has a fantasy/ fairytale theme. Perfect as a desk ornament. I can also see it being a cool decoration for a shelf, especially the fantasy book section of a home library. Please look carefully at the photos for any missing chunks/ broken edges before buying.