San Francisco Toothpick Model

Incredible detail: The huge sculpture features the trademark houses of the area, left, and the Palace of Fine Arts, right, which contains a model of artist Scott Weaver's heart made from matchsticks thrown by guests at his wedding instead of confetti

The sculpture started when Weaver built a matchstick replica of the Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard Street. He began rolling ping pong balls around the pair and decided to add new features.

Three thousand hours of work later, and the model is the masterpiece it is today. 

It has survived one earthquake and four home moves, with the most serious damage being caused by Weaver's pet Great Dane who took out Fisherman's Wharf with a swipe of his tail. 

Weaver has also incorporated several personal details into the sculpture such as the date of his wedding - and a heart inside the Palace of Fine Arts is made from matchsticks his friends threw at his wedding instead of confetti. 

Labour of love: A battleship in San Francisco Bay - just part of the model which took 34 years to make  

Work in progress: Weaver is still adding features to the model, which has only been seriously damaged once by his pet Great Dane

He told the San Francisco Chronicle: 'I always had a dream that I would build the world's largest toothpick sculpture. 

It's not, but none of them have a ping pong ball that rolls through it. It's San Francisco as I see it.'

The artist is still adding to the sculpture, including a bottle of wine outside a model of a winery for every ten years he has been sober.