Art Kaleidoscope

Between art and craft

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A proud cockerel father with a chicken. Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A proud cockerel father with a chicken. Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

It seems that so familiar to everyone Birch bark – what new can be created from it, if everything is already invented? But talented people don’t seize to amaze us. Let me introduce you to a new name in the World encyclopedia of masters – Vera Alexandrovna Leontieva. She discovered a new method of birch bark processing and patented it. This method is called – birch bark filigree.
As a child, Vera Alexandrovna was always interested in art. Therefore, in 1971 she entered the school of metal processing art in the village of Red-on-Volga, near Kostroma. In those days it was the center of the jewelry industry in Russia. So, according to her education, Vera Leontieva is not just an artist, she is a jeweler.

A dog

A dog. birchbark filigree sculpture

For some time Vera worked in the specialty, but then she had to leave Kamensk-Ural (Sverdlovsk region). With the move she had to change work, that is to give up jewelry production. She began to teach painting, sculpture and composition at the school. But to do something with hands has been always the meaning of life for her. So, Vera Alexandrovna left school, to begin working at home.

An eagle

An eagle

It was a difficult task to open her own jewelry shop because of cost of material. But suddenly, she found the way out. It was birch bark. On the one hand, it is a living material that does not rot, has antibacterial properties and does not pass water. And it is these properties have been used in Russia for centuries. On the other hand – a reasonable price, gives vent to imagination. In general, the material was just what the craftswoman soul wanted.

A dog. Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A dog. Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

Technology allows to create delicate birch miniatures, as well as quite large composition. One of the most famous works of Vera Leontieva – a meter sculpture “The Firebird.” For the love of a large shape, her daughter sometimes jokingly called the designer “Birch bar Tsereteli” (contemporary sculptor famous for his large works). According to the designer, three daughters are very helpful, and support her work.

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A cat on the bench, birch bark sculptural composition made entirely of bark

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A grasshopper at his house

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A rabbit and a home keeper at the tea table with a samovar

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

An elephant

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

Antique two-wheeled chariot drawn by four horses

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

Bath time, sculptural composition

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

A peacock

Vera Leontieva birchbark filigree art

At the samovar

source:
birch bark lovers group vk.com/berestushka