One of the early works of Samuel Bugeja, is the Mother and Child created in 1965/1966. This was carved from a tree trunk in Olive wood. It was exhibited in the Commonwealth Institute in London in 1967. The two figures of mother and baby hold onto each other in a harmonious embrace as if the mother is the trunk and the baby a bunch hanging from it. This peculiar exploitation of wood made Bugeja a pioneer in this field. Other sculptors would follow suit.

At the insistence of the London exhibition organizers, Samuel Bugeja had to place a price against the exhibit and with great reluctance he placed an exuberant price so that this work of art is not sold. Unfortunately to Samuel, a certain Sir Lindsay Fynn was adamant in owning this unique sculpture. The sale of this work of art triggered Samuel into various other Mother and Child sculptures as if to ‘replace’ his original creation.