Sculptor Herbert Ferber was born in New York City in 1906 with the name of Herbert Ferber Silvers. His love of literature sparked his artistic talents, beginning with an interest in the history of art, which inspired him to go to museums in New York City as much as he could in the late 20s.

From college he went on to dental school, and it was there when he had to make anatomical drawings that he discovered he had a talent for naturalistic drawing. Ferber was encouraged by a teacher in dentistry, who was a collector of work by Abraham Walkowitz, to carry on with art as an "extra-dental interest."

After a year of dental school, he began to attend the Beaux Art Institute of Design, which was distantly affiliated...