"Nikolai II", 15"H, nut11, Russian Unique Wooden Nutcracker
This piece is unique. It is being executed in the workshop "Tabo", Sergiyev Posad, Russia. It is crafted completely by hand: carved out of the best species of linden wood (Amour tilia) and painted with tempera and acrylic. Fine burning on wood and gold paint application add to the decoration of the military uniform of coronel of the Preobrazhesnkiy Regiment, which was the rank of the last Czar of Russian Empire. Museum quality flawless work! Only two were made so far. 15"H without, and 18"H with drum stand (shown separately).
This is one of the 2019 series 12 unique nutcrackers (all of them are historic characters - Emperors, Czars, Dukes, Statesmen, Marshals) designed and created by Russian artists and Alkota with active help of A.A. Merza, vivid collector of wooden handcrafted nutcrackers all over the world, who kindly shared with us some of his ideas, sketches, and pictures.
Since carving and decorating of every figurine is a time consuming process we craft each of them one at a time.