Denis Shcherbakov

Miniature maker

History in miniature

It takes Denis up to one month to complete a miniature figurine
He makes everything from Roman emperors to Game of Thrones characters
He created religious jewellery before turning to tin miniatures

Those who have read the classic Russian tale by Nikolai Leskov about a lefty who managed to shoe a flea would be thrilled to discover Denis Shcherbakov’s tin miniatures. From ancient Barbarians to Napoleonic soldiers in full dress uniform, his characters have impeccably painted eyes and eyelashes on a 4mm face and fine writing on a 5mm manuscript. Lace, ornamental buttons, scars, drops of blood on a sword... no detail is beyond his skill. Denis is also keen to create miniatures that reference real historical events, such as Peter the Great cutting a merchant’s beard, which refers to the time in 1698 when Peter introduced a beard tax to bring Russian society in line with Western European models.

Interview

How did your story begin?: When I was a child I enjoyed playing with my toy soldiers, and at some stage I started painting their faces with the help of my father. Since then I've never really stopped. I began to study drawing and then got a job as a jeweller’s apprentice making religious jewellery.
Why did you choose tin miniatures over religious jewellery?: There is much more freedom here, much more space for creativity. You are dealing with fascinating stories of battles, kings, generals and personalities in history, and even some exciting movie characters. And a lot more people are interested in what you create.
What would you advise a young person who wants to start this craft?: Be prepared to acquire the patience of a saint. Be ready to practise your technique thousands of times to reach a worthwhile level of finesse and precision. Remember, you can’t get great results quickly making 54mm miniatures, no matter how talented you are.
What's the most useful advice that you have ever received?: Resist the temptation to make a piece too sophisticated, too complicated, too ornate. Once you master a certain level of technique you always want to go the extra mile and add another special little feature. But let taste, not ambition, guide you. It is essential to know when to stop.

Denis Shcherbakov is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2000