The Miniature Art of Randall Zadar

Fine Art Sculpture

A Complete Catalog

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The Bronze Miniatures Catalog

The purpose of this catalog is to tell the story of Zadar Miniatures and to document the work by providing information to collectors, museums, and art historians. Information like production numbers, issue price, is valuable to art collectors. The production numbers are of major interest to collectors as they reveal the rarity of the work. That information is kept in journals in the studio but now will be available online. The records show that the work was never mass-produced by the nature of the difficult process of Lost Wax Casting. Production numbers are low (usually under 100 pieces) making the collection rarer. Also important to note, that all the pieces have passed through my hands at every stage of production. The work was always produced in my studio where I sculpted the pieces, made the molds, cast and painted on every piece.

 

The story of Zadar Miniatures is one of overcoming obstacles and challenges. Of being resourceful and creative to find solutions to complicated problems. There were many failures and setbacks, but I always kept going because I believed in the art and the collectors expected me to advance to new levels. Each piece presented its own set of new challenges, from sculpting, molding, casting to painting. But that kept it interesting. So there is a story behind each piece.

My intent of this catalog is to inform and to give insight into the work. Sometimes just looking at a piece, it is difficult to appreciate what it took to produce it. Each has a story, some ending in disaster. At times I had to break the rules. Basically, to cast bronze I had to heat the metal to about 2000 degrees and then spin it around at high speed in a centrifugal casting machine. Things can go wrong and sometimes did when your working with molten bronze.

 

 

 

 

This archival catalog covers all the pieces made from the first to the last. There are 240 pieces in the collection from the first one in 1994 to the last in 2017. Production numbers are included in the catalog as well as unusual items like studio samples, artist proofs, prototypes and paint tests. The secondary market values will not be noted. If you contact me I can forward you information I have from other sources of any pieces I may know of for sale. All pieces are on the secondary market. All Zadar Miniatures were only made from bronze, silver or gold.

The Beginning

Before going on I should probably comment on how this all got started. I am often asked how did I get started making miniature bronze figurines. A different career choice and one I didn’t plan for or even knew it existed. So the best answer is, it found me. In 1992 I was running my own office machine business. I became restless and started looking for another career. This started me on the road of creativity, something that was not new to me as I was always making things growing up.

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing I tried was some inventions based on a mechanical motion. At the same time, I discovered my love of antique classic cars especially the 1948 Tucker Automobile. The Tucker Car was the spark that really started it all. Many of the early projects I made featured a Tucker, including some wood burnt plaques that I made featuring antique cars. One of these plaques of the Tucker, I showed to my Uncle and he suggested I sculpt a Tucker out of wax and cast it using Lost Wax Casting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had never sculpted anything before and had no idea I could. My uncle was a part-time jeweler and knew everything about the process. As he showed me the wax and how to shape it, something inside me said; “I can do this.” I took the tools and supplies home and eagerly started sculpting the Tucker miniature car. From that project, I learned how to sculpt, make molds, cast and finish pieces. My uncle set up a casting shop in his garage and we spent an entire year working through failure after failure until I finally had a good casting of the Tucker. The lessons learned in these early days was the basis for the mold making and casting successes throughout my career.

 

 

 

 

 

One of those Tuckers, I took to local miniature show and met a miniature art dealer from Chicago. He encouraged me strongly to continue and to work smaller in the 1/12^th scale. That was the fall of 1993 and by the spring of 1994, I had my first six miniatures ready for debut at an art show in Chicago. By 1995 business was booming and I closed my office machine business and went full time into creating miniature art.

 

 

 

One thing is for sure, I never got locked into a certain theme. The body of work is very diverse with many different themes. I always tried to keep it interesting and fresh by constantly pushing myself to new levels. This variety I believe was a major benefit to the body of work and something collectors continue to enjoy. After 23 years and 240 editions, it was time to stop. The miniatures will continue to live on, and I hope the legacy of this unique art form will continue to grow in awareness and value.

 

 

List of all Miniatures Produced, Pictures and Descriptions on Catalog Page

#1 1948 Tucker
#2 Sunday Drive
#3 King of the Road
#4 Spanish Dancer
#5 On The River
#6 High Society I
#7 Toucan I
#8 High Society II
#9 Toucan II
#10 Toucan III
#11 Whistling Boy
#12 Harvest Time Girl
#13 Extra! Extra!
#14 Soldier Boy/Patriot Boy
#15 The Little Engine
#16 Lee
#17 The Grape Eaters, Grape Eaters II
#17PW Grape Eaters Porcelain White
#18 Michelangelo’s David
#19 Chestnuts & Tales
#19NB Grandpa’s Story
#20 Studio Plaque
#21 Young Love
#22 Pals
#23 Love & Music
#23 PW Love & Music Porcelain White
#24 1996 Collector’s Coin
#25 Stacy’s Roses I
#25 Stacy’s Roses II
#26 Feathered Friend
#27 1997 Collector’s Coin
#28 Victorian Elegance I
#28 Victorian Elegance II
#29 Sleeper Awakened
#29PW Sleeper A. in Porcelain White
#30 Dollhouse Days
#31 Learning to Fly
#32 Three Graces
#32PW Three Graces Porcelain White
#33 Apple Harvest Girl
#34 Angels at Play
#35 1998 Collector’s Coin
#36 Cassandra
#37 Alpine Boy
#38 Ribbon & Lace
#39 Afternoon Stroll
#40 April Showers
#41 Forever Young
#42 Alpine Girl
#43 Go-Fetch
#44 It’s a Girl
#44 It’s a Boy
#45 Autumn Lovers
#46 1948 Tucker II
#47 Magnifier
#48 Let’s Play
#49 Tips Please
#50 Mother & Firstborn
#51 Windy Stroll
#52 High Society III
#53 Dollhouse Days II
#54 Cockatoo
#55 Little Engine No.2
#55NB Little Engine No.2
#56 Afternoon Tea
#56NB Afternoon Tea Natural Bronze
#57 Rosemont Roses
#58 Little Ballerina
#59 King Of The Road II
#59NB King of The Road Natural Bronze
#60 Man’s Best Friend
#61 Summer’s Bouquet
#62 The One That Got Away
#63 The Dance
#63PW The Dance Porcelain White
#64NB Micro Racer Natural Bronze
#65 Snowman Family
#66 Shepherdess
#66NB Shepherdess natural Bronze
#67 Forever Young II
#68 Daily Prayer
#69 Scooter Kid
#70 In Need Of Lessons
#71 Rained Out
#72 Looking For The Mouse
#73 Mss Glamour
#74 Collector Plate
#75 The Seed Collector
#76 2003 Collectible Expo Plate
#77 Reserve Collector Plate
#78 Pond Encounter
#79 The Carrot Thief
#80 The Rose Collector
#81 Rooster
#82 Cheese Factory Or Bust
#83 Sneak Attack
#84 Mischief Makers
#85 Chatter Box
#86 The Curious Bird
#87 Old Boots
#88 Dancer Camargo
#89 Ring Of Mice
#90 Bonsai Lady
#91 The Bird Nesters
#92 Venus Adorned
#93 Beach Party
#94 Pumpkin Patch
#95 Micro Lady Set
#96 Tall Tales
#97 Decade
#98 Sophisticated Frog
#99 Flight Ninety Nine
#100 Collector Stand
#101 Studio Frame
#102 Sea Turtles
#103 Crab & Fish
#104 Great White Shark
#105 Angel Fish & Seahorse
#106 Tulips
#107 Orchids
#108 Daisies
#109 Roses
#110 The Toast
#111 Rose Wreath
#112 The Kiss
#113 The Proposal
#114 Humming Bird One
#115 Humming Bird Two
#116 Humming Bird Three
#117 Humming Bird Four
#118 Giraffes
#119 Tigers
#120 Bears
#121 Elephants
#122 Cool Little Car #1
#123 Cool Little Car #2
#124 Cool Little Car #3
#125 Rose Collector II
#126 Morning Dew
#127 Evening Dew
#128 Pixie Collector
#129 Dancing Couple
#130 Venus & Cupid
#131 Little Gardeners
#132 Humming Bird Vase
#133 Aquatic Vase
#134 Cottage One
#135 Cottage Two
#136 Cottage Three
#137 Cottage Four
#138 DHF One
#139 DHF Two
#140 DHF Three
#141 DHF Four
#142 DHF Five
#143 DHF Six
#144 DHF Seven
#145 DHF Eight
#146 Ivory Cat One
#147 Ivory Cat Two
#148 Ivory Frog One
#149 Ivory Frog Two
#150 Ivory Snow Mice
#151 Console
#152 Just Married
#153 Girl on a Swing
#154 Swan & Rose
#155 Shepherdess & Bagpiper
#156 Pixie & Butterfly
#157 Ballet Dancers
#158 Birdhouse
#159 Micro Santa
#160 Micro Elephant
#161 Sweet Memories
#162 Romeo and Juliet
#163 Hobo’s Dinner
#164 Christmas Tree Angel
#165 Santa
#166 Dolls & House
#167 Micro Train
#168 Fire Truck and Cars
#169 Rocking Horse
#170 Owl & Mouse
#171 Pony
#172 Two Cats
#173 Bunny Trio
#174 Snowman & Bird
#175 Taking Flight
#176 Cat Band Conductor
#177 Sax Player
#178 Band Drummer
#179 Cello Player
#180 Horn Player
#181 Guitar Player
#182 Bluebirds
#183 Three Graces
#184 Flower Basket
#185 Cat Family
#186 Eagle and Fish
#187 Fawn
#188 Music Lesson
#189 Garden Tea
#190 Cupid Distressed
#191 The Story of Velvet
#192 Dressage
#193 Born Free
#194 Snow Day
#195 Snow Patrol
#196 Spring Stroll
#197 Cat House
#198 Little Mother
#199 Flowers
#200 Summer Breeze
#201 Street Artist
#202 Miss Lexie
#203 Merry Christmas
#204-Blast-Off
#205 Ice Cream
#206 Carolina Wren
#207 Best Friends
#208- Wolfhounds
#209 – Miniature Cottage
#209 A & B Insert
#210 Macaw
#211 – Pied Piper
#212 Un-Scared Crow
#213 Micros A, B, C
#214 Alice’s Book
#215 Tea & Cookies
#216 Birds of Spring
#217 Sunday Drive II
#218 Home Sweet Home
#219 The Mariner
#220 Thunder
#221 Young Panda
#222 Gem Transport
#223 There Were Four
#224 Fox and Pup
#225 First Flight
#226 Racoons
#227 Indian Lover
#228 Center Stage
#229 Robin Hood
#230 Porcelain Set
#231 Snowman Vase/Stand
#232 Carolers
#233 Spring Flowers
#234 Mermaid
#235 Little Red Riding Hood
#236 Gullivar Collector Set
#237 The Golden Age
#238 Catnap
#239 Butterfly
#240 Time To Collect

All Pieces Retired