Hermann Sunait
Woodcarver
I have been working as a woodcarver for more than twenty years. My professional journey began in St Petersburg, in the workshops of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, where I worked on objects and details belonging to historic interiors.
I later undertook private and ecclesiastical commissions in Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany. My work has included carved elements for furniture and interiors, icons and reliefs, frames, components of iconostases, as well as decorative elements for musical instruments and organ cases.
For me, the work is not simply about reproducing a form with precision. It is equally important to understand the character of an object, its style and its place within the surrounding space. I carry out most of my work by hand, using traditional woodcarving tools.
I now live and work in Germany, where I accept individual commissions and remain open to a wide range of professional collaborations.
Areas of Work
Four Fields of Craft Practice
Biography
Professional Foundations
In the photograph: working on one of the historic portrait frames commissioned during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I for portraits of Russian grand dukes.
My professional and craft foundations were shaped in the workshops of the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, the former summer residence of the Russian imperial family near St Petersburg, internationally renowned for the Amber Room. In late 2004, while still studying at a vocational school for restoration, I joined the workshops for a practical placement. After graduating, I was offered a permanent position in the workshop founded by Alexei Kochuyev, one of the leading craftsmen involved in the reconstruction of the palace’s historic woodcarving. Until 2009, I worked there on historic woodcarving and elements of the palace interiors.
