Nikolai Lieberich – Bear Inkwell

Colonel Nikolai Lieberich (1828-1883) was one of the most popular Russian sculptors of 19th century. Well known for his smaller scale models cast in bronze.

He started sculpturing in the late 1850s. His bronzes were presented at international world exhibitions in Paris, London, Philadelphia, Chicago. In general, his interests were in modeling hunting scenes and animals: bears, wolves, borzoi, dogs, horses…

He perfected a unique technique of casting the bear’s fur, in which the wax model underwent a special chemical treatment in puffing up the wax surface before casting.

A new casting group could take him a year to produce. He was most prolific during the 1870’s till early 1880’s, in which he was busy with many special orders intended to be gifts for some high-ranking Russian officials.

For the actual castings, he used such foundries as Sokolov in the beginning, and English Store’s workshop in the end if his lifetime. While he was alive, he never let any foundry place its mark nor his signature on his bronzes.

His sculptures were documented to have been cast in the following foundries:

• Sokolov (pre-1860’s)
• C.F. Woerffel, St. Petersbourg. (1861-1865)
• Nicols & Plinke, St. Petersburg (1866-1867)
• Grizar Factory, St. Petersburg (1871)
• C.F. WOERFFEL, ST. PETERSBURG (1886)
• Nicols & Plinke, St. Petersbourg.

For another example of the works from this artist, please visit this website: https://inkwellresearch.com/inkipedia/nikolai-lieberich-bear-behind-bars/?

Reference Sites:

• https://www.russianbronze.com/lieberich-nikolay/
• A gallery of his work can be found in ‘The State Russian Museum / St Michael’s Castle’. https://en.rusmuseum.ru/mikhailovsky-castle/exhibitions/nicholas-liberia-1828-1883/?sphrase_id=403445#rmPhoto[gallery1690]/6/