The figure you have in mind to sculpt (5)
I believe the answer is:
carve
'sculpt' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for carve that I've seen before include "Cut meat with sharp knife" , "Cut (meat, stone, etc)" , "Truncheon" , "Cut meat into slices for eating" , "Slice (meat)" .)