Two ermine, stoat or weasel stone figurines, Ural marble. Vintage Ural stone art carving created by Russian Ural artists in 1980s.

The standing ermine is c.3.3/4" [c.9.6cm] tall, c.1" x 1" [c.2.6cm] at the base; the sitting ermine is c.2" [c.5.1cm] tall, c.1/2" x 1.1/4" [c.1.4cm x 3.2cm] at the base. Very good condition.

Provenance:
This figurine was exhibited and sold in West Berlin by the official Soviet-Russian Company "Novoexport", USSR, Moscow in 1985. This company also issued a 14-page sale's catalog.

Stone is a noble and self-sufficient material, which possesses a certain magic. This is what makes sculptures made from a single piece of stone so stunning. A piece of stone can give a subtle hint about the potential work of art which it lends itself to, and this hint can only be understood by an expert. When working with a single piece of stone, an artisan first outlines the general shape and then moves on to the details so that the final image becomes recognizable to the viewer.

Hard stone carving is a truly unique art. On the one hand, the stone carver is an artist and a creator, who gives a hard and shapeless piece of stone a new life and a new shape. On the other hand, his most important task is to unveil and demonstrate what has already been created by nature: beauty, structure and the unique character of the stone. When it comes to working with stone, each piece requires this fine balance between creating and being guided by the material itself.

Ural, located on the border between Europe and Asia is exceptionally rich in various ores and minerals, such as valuable chalcopyrite, nickel oxide, chromite, magnetite, bauxite, potassium salts, manganese, aluminum, gold, platinum, as well as coal, oil and natural gas. The area is famous for semi-precious stones, such as emerald, amethyst, aquamarine, jasper, rhodonite, malachite and diamond. Therefore, since the 18th century, Ural area became known for the artistic production of stone artworks and decorative items.

Note:
Country restrictions [corona] may apply - the lesser expansive Priority or 1st Class shipping may not be available to all countries.

US: Priority (c.4-9 days) ---------------- $9.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-6 weeks) ------ $22.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-8 weeks) ------- $32.50