This elegant, fully articulated, sterling silver crab was made by renowned Russian artist, Oleg Konstantinov. This piece is signed and numbered on the bottom.
Konstantinov is deeply inspired by the natural world. Before moving to the United Sates, Konstantinov made a living crafting jewelry from carved animal bone. He developed a fondness for Japanese art as a child while visiting museums with his grandparents in St. Petersburg. When he discovered the 19th century Japanese craft of Jizai Okimono—articulated metal sculptures—he found his calling. The metal work combined his interests, technical skill, and eye for detail. Despite having no formal training, Konstantinov took up the craft after arriving in Washington D.C. from Minsk, over 20 years ago. To this day, Konstantinov works out of his Maryland based studio, Objets D’art Workshop, fashioning exquisitely crafted articulated sculptures. The modest artist has been quoted as saying his sculptures are, “…basically just toys,”. However, when one examines his process it is clear his objects are truly works of art. In 2012, Konstantinov was given the Silver Award at the Smithsonian Craft Show.
This incredible sterling silver articulated crab sculpture is composed of over 75 hand built, individually cast, parts. Each piece is separately cast through a process called “lost wax”. Konstantinov begins by carving a part from a wax block. The wax is then surrounded by a plaster mold and inserted into a metal canister, which is heated until the max melts away. Molten silver then fills the mold, taking the shape of Konstantinov’s original carving. After the piece has cooled, it is removed, polished, and patinated. Konstantinov makes no more than 30 pieces from each design, thus his creations are highly sought after and collectible.
This sterling silver crab is fully articulated and impeccably detailed. The silver crab moves, flexes and bends just like its real counterpart. When the crabs limbs are extended, the piece is approximately 4 1/2 - 5” wide. The crab’s body is approximately 1 1/4” in length and approximately 1 1/4” wide. The bottom of the crab is as equally detailed as the top. The exposed abdomen is simply exquisite. The incredibly accurate details denote that this is a beautiful rendering of a male crab. Everything from the crab’s eyes, to its claws, to its legs, has a beautiful range of motion. This piece weighs approximately 111 grams or 3.57 Troy ounces. This piece is signed and numbered on the bottom.
This incredible work of art is truly something to behold. This piece would make an unforgettable gift or an incredible addition to your art collection.
