THE BIG BLACK TOSCA represents a fragment of a modern female body and is a tribute to a timeless beauty and an inner strength that expresses the joy of life. The sculpture's neck and shoulders were inspired by ancient Greek torsos that were found broken, headless, and armless.

Gigi Rigamonti's "TOSCA" sculpture was created in 1980. In 1982, Rigamonti met Gianni Versace, who at the time had only a single store on Via della Spiga in Milan. Gianni Versace saw TOSCA and he realised how innovative Gigi Rigamonti's new mannequin idea was. In the 1980s, mannequins were completely different, with wigs and makeup and luminous, unnatural bodies. Gigi Rigamonti had his new artistic vision and created a true sculpture, a true work of art. TOSCA is Gigi Rigamonti's most iconic and historic artwork. She completely changed the face of the mannequin in the 1980s, and this influence can still be seen in the fashion world today. TOSCA became an iconic sculpture in all Gianni Versace stores, major fashion shows, and Versace exhibitions until his passing in 1997. At that time, Gianni Versace had 130 boutiques worldwide. In 1985, Alex Wilde, a German art collector from Düsseldorf, saw TOSCA in Gianni Versace's boutique and commissioned Gigi Rigamonti to create a large torso sculpture inspired by TOSCA. Rigamonti created “THE BIG TOSCA" 230 cm tall, made of fiberglass resin, and the sculpture was displayed in the main square in downtown Düsseldorf. Rigamonti used a cast of “THE BIG TOSCA" to create “The BIG BLACK TOSCA" for his private collection.