The Tico Times, Friday, April 26, 1991 

* Tico Scene 

…After last week’s visit here by the King and Queen of Spain, a royal glow surrounds local craftsman BARRY BIESANZ, known for his beautiful wooden boxes and bowls… First the Hotel Palacio commissioned BARRY to make a jewelry box as a gift for its royal guests.  Then the Central American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation gave him an emergency request for a rosewood box to house a silver statue of a farmer, which the institute presented to the couple as a gift.  The topper came when Queen SOFIA went shopping at San Jose’s La Galeria… “She bought ¢100,000 (USD$900 in 1991) of my bowls!” exclaimed BARRY.  The Queen sent her compliments and suggested the craftsman send her a board with wood samples.  BARRY, whose works have been given to three U.S. presidents and the leaders of Argentina, Brazil, and Germany, said, “You still get a kick out of your first royalty.”  BARRY also announced that his workshop is giving away free cocobolo saplings.  Anyone interested, call 28-18-11.