Here is what one of the leading stone-cutting masters of Russia, St. Petersburg resident Sergey Falkin, tells about his creative path.

“Since childhood, I have been drawing, making something, writing poetry. And I have always had a dilemma between literature and art. However, art requires special education and skills. .

Then I quickly realized that working in a newspaper is not my thing. And, as often happens, by chance, I got the opportunity to get into the Hermitage, to the editorial and publishing department. I worked there for five years and plunged into this world with my head: a whole huge museum was at my disposal. I think that not a single student of the Academy of Arts had such an opportunity.

Even then I carved wood, was friends with many restorers. These people were just unique, very interesting – in terms of hands and fate. I had the opportunity to ask everyone questions, even stupid ones. Then my friend got a job in the workshops that were engaged in the reconstruction of the Amber Room. San Sanych Zhuravlev supervised the work, I brought him my “pieces of wood”, and he said: “Okay, we are making out.” And it was a whole year of euphoria, working with amber. When the Florentine mosaic was being made, I became acquainted with the stone.

During perestroika, we opened a cooperative. They made stone-cutting boxes for foreigners, then I began to make stone sculpture and have been doing it for 25 years.”

This selection presents flower bouquets in the spirit of Faberge. The master calls such works “fabergatina”. These compositions are very popular with the public and are in demand by buyers. But the master himself is more valuable than his own works of authorship, which we will refer to in another publication.